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Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

Instructions for Form 8615

Tax for Certain Children Who Have Investment Income of More Than $1,900

adjusted amounts. If the child’s tax

IF a child was

THEN, at the end

General Instructions

changes, file Form 1040X to correct the

born on...

of 2009, the child

child’s tax.

is considered to

Purpose of Form

be...

Alternative Minimum Tax

For children under age 18 and certain

January 1, 1992

18*

older children described below in Who

A child whose tax is figured on Form 8615

Must File, investment income over $1,900

may owe the alternative minimum tax. For

January 1, 1991

19**

is taxed at the parent’s rate if the parent’s

details, see Form 6251, Alternative

rate is higher than the child’s. If the child’s

January 1, 1986

24***

Minimum Tax — Individuals, and its

investment income is more than $1,900,

instructions.

*This child is not under age 18. The child

use Form 8615 to figure the child’s tax.

meets condition 3 only if the child did not

Line Instructions

have earned income that was more than half

Investment Income

of the child’s support.

For Form 8615, “investment income”

**This child meets condition 3 only if the

Lines A and B

includes all taxable income other than

child was a full-time student who did not

earned income as defined on page 2.

have earned income that was more than half

If the child’s parents were married to each

Investment income includes taxable

of the child’s support.

other and filed a joint return, enter the

***Do not use Form 8615 for this child.

interest, ordinary dividends, capital gains

name and social security number (SSN)

(including capital gain distributions), rents,

of the parent who is listed first on the joint

royalties, etc. It also includes taxable

return.

The parent may be able to elect to

social security benefits, pension and

TIP

report the child’s interest, ordinary

If the parents were married but filed

annuity income, and income (other than

dividends, and capital gain

separate returns, enter the name and

earned income) received as the

distributions on the parent’s return. If the

SSN of the parent who had the higher

beneficiary of a trust.

parent makes this election, the child will

taxable income. If you do not know which

not have to file a return or Form 8615.

parent had the higher taxable income,

Who Must File

However, the federal income tax on the

see Pub. 929.

Form 8615 must be filed for any child who

child’s income, including qualified

If the parents were unmarried, treated

meets all of the following conditions.

dividends and capital gain distributions,

as unmarried for federal income tax

1. The child had more than $1,900 of

may be higher if this election is made. For

purposes, or separated by either a

investment income.

more details, see Form 8814, Parents’

divorce or separate maintenance decree,

2. The child is required to file a tax

Election To Report Child’s Interest and

enter the name and SSN of the parent

return.

Dividends.

with whom the child lived for most of the

3. The child either:

year (the custodial parent).

Additional Information

a. Was under age 18 at the end of

Exceptions. If the custodial parent

2009,

For more details, see Pub. 929, Tax

remarried and filed a joint return with his

b. Was age 18 at the end of 2009 and

Rules for Children and Dependents.

or her new spouse, enter the name and

did not have earned income that was

SSN of the person listed first on the joint

more than half of the child’s support, or

Incomplete Information for

return, even if that person is not the

c. Was a full-time student over age 18

Parent or Other Children

child’s parent. If the custodial parent and

and under age 24 at the end of 2009 and

his or her new spouse filed separate

did not have earned income that was

If the parent’s taxable income, filing

returns, enter the name and SSN of the

more than half of the child’s support.

status, or the net investment income of

person with the higher taxable income,

(Earned income is defined on page 2.

the parent’s other children is not known

even if that person is not the child’s

Support is defined below.)

by the due date of the child’s return,

parent.

4. At least one of the child’s parents

reasonable estimates can be used. Enter

was alive at the end of 2009.

If the parents were unmarried but lived

“Estimated” next to the appropriate line(s)

5. The child does not file a joint return

together during the year with the child,

of Form 8615. When the correct

for 2009.

enter the name and SSN of the parent

information is available, file Form 1040X,

who had the higher taxable income.

Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax

Support. Your child’s support includes

Return.

all amounts spent to provide the child with

Line 1

Instead of using estimates, the child

food, lodging, clothing, education, medical

can get an automatic 6-month extension

If the child had no earned income

and dental care, recreation,

of time to file. For details, see Form 4868,

(defined on page 2), enter the child’s

transportation, and similar necessities. To

Application for Automatic Extension of

adjusted gross income from Form 1040,

figure your child’s support, count support

Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax

line 38; Form 1040A, line 22; or Form

provided by you, your child, and others.

1040NR, line 36.

Return.

However, a scholarship received by your

child is not considered support if your

If the child had earned income, use the

Amended Return

child is a full-time student. See Pub. 501

worksheet on page 2 to figure the amount

for details.

If after the child’s return is filed, the

to enter on line 1. But use Pub. 929

Certain January 1 birthdays. Use the

parent’s taxable income changes or the

instead of the worksheet to figure the

following chart to determine whether

net investment income of any of the

amount to enter on line 1 if the child:

•

certain children with January 1 birthdays

parent’s other children changes, the

Files Form 2555 or 2555-EZ (relating to

meet condition 3 under Who Must File.

child’s tax must be refigured using the

foreign earned income),

Cat. No. 28914R

Instructions For Form 8615 - Tax For Certain Children Who Have Investment Income Of More Than 1,900 - Internal Revenue Service - 2009

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