First-time filer here! Can someone please explain how to file my taxes as a dependent student?

Hey everyone! I'm a 23-year-old college student who's never filed taxes before. I know I've had money taken out of my paychecks (definitely seen those deductions!), but I've never made over the $13,850 standard deduction amount and my parents still claim me as a dependent. I'm honestly confused about the whole process. Is there a difference between "filing" and "filing a return"? If I don't file, am I breaking the law? I really don't want to end up in trouble with the IRS! 😰 I tried looking at TurboTax to upload my W-2, but I'm scared I'll mess something up catastrophically. The whole tax system seems so complicated with forms and numbers and exemptions. I just need some basic tax education so this process isn't so intimidating. Any advice would be super appreciated!

0 coins

19 comments

Mason Lopez

•8M

Don't worry, filing taxes for the first time can seem intimidating, but it's actually pretty straightforward in your situation! "Filing" and "filing a return" are the same thing - it just means submitting your tax information to the IRS. As a dependent who earned less than the standard deduction ($13,850 for 2023), you're not legally required to file. However, you should definitely still file because if you had any taxes withheld from your paychecks, you'll likely get that money back as a refund! Using TurboTax or another free filing service is actually very beginner-friendly. You'll just enter the information from your W-2 exactly as it appears on the form. The software guides you through each step and checks for errors. For a simple return like yours, it typically takes less than 30 minutes. The basic process is: enter your personal information, input your W-2 data, answer some straightforward questions about your situation, review everything, and submit. That's it!

0 coins

Mason Lopez

•8M

If you earned more than the standard deduction ($13,850 for 2023), you are required to file a tax return even if you're claimed as a dependent. In that case, you would still get your own standard deduction, but you can't claim yourself as a dependent since your parents already did. For most tax software including TurboTax, you can file both federal and state taxes together in one session. The software will guide you through both processes, usually completing the federal return first and then moving on to state. Some states have free filing options while others may charge a fee, but the federal filing should be free for simple tax situations through the IRS Free File program.

0 coins

Jake Sinclair

•8M

After struggling with my first few tax returns as a student, I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that made everything so much clearer! I was also super confused about being a dependent and whether I needed to file, and this tool analyzed my W-2 and told me exactly what I needed to do. It was way less intimidating than trying to figure out TurboTax on my own. You literally just upload your documents and it explains everything in normal human language instead of tax jargon. It even pointed out a education credit I was eligible for that I had no idea about!

0 coins

Jake Sinclair

•8M

It doesn't file your taxes for you - it analyzes your documents and gives you personalized guidance on what to do next. It highlights things you might miss and explains everything in simple terms, then you can use that information when you file through TurboTax or another service. All data is encrypted and they use bank-level security for document storage. They don't store your documents permanently either - they're deleted after analysis. They take privacy really seriously which was important to me too.

0 coins

Brielle Johnson

•8M

Guys I just tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it was such a relief! I was so confused about being a dependent student but it explained everything. It analyzed my W-2 and showed me that I was actually owed a refund of $267 that I would have completely missed if I hadn't filed! The interface was super simple and it gave me step-by-step instructions that I could follow when I went to file. It even explained why certain numbers were showing up on my W-2 and what they meant. Honestly wish I had known about this sooner because taxes seemed way less scary after using it.

0 coins

Oliver Brown

•8M

If you're really stuck trying to figure out your tax situation and need to talk to an actual IRS agent (which I did last year as a first-time filer), I highly recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). The IRS phone lines are absolutely impossible to get through - I spent DAYS trying. Claimyr basically holds your place in the phone queue and calls you when an agent is ready to talk. I was super frustrated trying to figure out if I needed to file as a dependent, and being able to talk directly to an IRS agent cleared everything up in like 5 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was about to pay an accountant $150 just to answer a simple question, but this saved me so much hassle.

0 coins

Oliver Brown

•8M

They use an automated system that essentially waits on hold for you. When you call the IRS yourself, you might wait hours or get disconnected, but their system can stay on hold indefinitely until an agent becomes available. Then they connect you directly with the IRS agent. They definitely connect you with real IRS agents - it's the official IRS phone line, they just handle the waiting part. When I used it, I could tell I was speaking with an actual IRS representative who had access to all the systems and information. I was skeptical too at first, but after wasting multiple days trying to get through myself, it was absolutely worth it to have someone else handle the hold time.

0 coins

Clay blendedgen

•8M

Ok I need to follow up on my previous comment - I actually tried Claimyr yesterday out of desperation after being on hold with the IRS for 2+ hours and getting disconnected THREE TIMES. I was honestly shocked that it worked. Got a call back in about 45 minutes and spoke to a real IRS agent who helped me figure out my dependent filing situation. I was 100% convinced it would be some kind of scam or wouldn't work, but I stand corrected. The agent I spoke with was definitely legitimate and answered all my questions about filing as a dependent student. Saved me from having to waste another day trying to get through on my own.

0 coins

Ayla Kumar

•8M

Hey! Former IRS employee here. Everyone's given great advice, but I wanted to add a few things: 1. As a dependent under 24 who's made less than the standard deduction, you're not REQUIRED to file, but you SHOULD file to get back any tax that was withheld from your paychecks. 2. The IRS has a special program called Free File that partners with tax software companies to provide free filing for people with simple returns. You can find it on irs.gov. 3. Don't stress too much about making mistakes! For simple returns, the software really does guide you through everything. And if you do make a small error, the IRS will usually just send you a letter with corrections. 4. Keep all your tax documents (W-2s, etc.) for at least 3 years after filing.

0 coins