| Pub. 929, Tax Rules for Children and Dependents |
2004 Tax Year |
Introductory Material
This is archived information that pertains only to the 2004 Tax Year. If you
are looking for information for the current tax year, go to the Tax Prep Help Area.
What's New
Filing requirements. The amount of gross income that many dependents with earned income (wages, tips, etc.) can have during the year without having
to file a return has
increased. See Filing Requirements in Part 1.
Standard deduction. The standard deduction for many dependents with earned income (wages, tips, etc.) has increased. See Standard Deduction in Part
1.
Alternative minimum tax. The limit on the exemption amount for figuring the alternative minimum tax of a child filing Form 8615 has increased to the
child's earned income
plus $5,750 (previously $5,600). See Alternative Minimum Tax in Part 2.
Investment income of child under age 14. The amount of taxable investment income a child under age 14 can have without it being subject to tax at the parent's rate
has increased to $1,600
(previously $1,500).
Reminders
Social security number (SSN). Dependents who are required to file a tax return must have an SSN. To apply for an SSN, file Form SS-5 with the Social Security
Administration. It
usually takes about 2 weeks to get an SSN.
Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). The IRS will issue an ITIN to a nonresident or resident alien who does not have and is not eligible to get an SSN. To apply
for an ITIN, file Form
W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, with the IRS. It usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks to get
an ITIN. The ITIN is
entered wherever an SSN is requested on a tax return. If you are a nonresident alien applying for an ITIN to file a tax return,
you generally now must
attach your original, completed return to Form W-7 to get an ITIN. If you are required to include another person's SSN on
your return and that person
does not have and cannot get an SSN, enter that person's ITIN.
An ITIN is for tax use only. It does not entitle you to social security benefits or change your employment or immigration
status under U.S. law.
Photographs of missing children. The Internal Revenue Service is a proud partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Photographs of
missing children
selected by the Center may appear in this publication on pages that would otherwise be blank. You can help bring these children
home by looking at the
photographs and calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) if you recognize a child.
Introduction
Part 1 of this publication explains the filing requirements and other tax information for individuals who can be claimed as a dependent
on another person's tax return.
Part 2 explains how to report and figure the tax on certain investment income of children under age 14 (whether or not they can be
claimed as dependents).
Definitions.
Many of the terms used in this publication, such as “ dependent,” “ earned income,” and “ unearned income,” are defined in the
Glossary at the back of this publication.
Comments and suggestions.
We welcome your comments about this publication and your suggestions for future editions.
You can write to us at the following address:
Internal Revenue Service
Individual Forms and Publications Branch
SE:W:CAR:MP:T:I
1111 Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6406
Washington, DC 20224
We respond to many letters by telephone. Therefore, it would be helpful if you would include your daytime phone number,
including the area code, in
your correspondence.
You can email us at
*[email protected]. (The asterisk must be included in the
address.) Please put “ Publications Comment” on the subject line. Although we cannot respond individually to each email, we do appreciate your
feedback and will consider your comments as we revise our tax products.
Tax questions.
If you have a tax question, visit
www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040. We cannot answer tax questions at either
of the addresses listed above.
Ordering forms and publications.
Visit
www.irs.gov/formspubs
to download forms and publications, call 1-800-829-3676, or write to one of the three addresses shown under How To Get Tax Help in the back
of this publication.
Useful Items - You may want to see:
Form (and Instructions)
-
W-4
Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate
-
8615
Tax for Children Under Age 14 With Investment Income of More Than $1,600
-
8814
Parents' Election To Report Child's Interest and Dividends
See How To Get Tax Help near the end of this publication for information about getting these publications and forms.
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