Do Your Kids’ Social Security Numbers Appear On Your Parents’ Tax Return?

A parent or guardian who doesn’t sign a child’s return can only provide information and pay the child’s tax. They are not entitled to receive Social Security Benefits for their dependents, as they are the person with the legal right to receive these benefits. A dependent is a qualifying child or relative who relies on you for financial support. To claim a dependent for tax credits or deductions, the dependent must meet specific requirements.

The IRS won’t treat your child’s Social Security benefits as your income, and you cannot include them in your income even if you wish to. To get benefits, a child must have either a parent who is retired or has a disability and is entitled to Social Security benefits, or a parent who died after working long enough.

Your child or other dependent would report their SSA-1099 on their own return, but only if they make enough income to be required to file (this is uncommon). If a retiree takes retirement benefits, any child of that retiree who is under 18, in high school, no older than 19, or disabled can receive children’s benefits. Parents have special tax situations and benefits, and tax breaks for parenting expenses can result in a lower tax bill and a higher refund.

A child isn’t the qualifying child of any other taxpayer if the child’s parent or any other person for whom the child is defined as a qualifying child isn’t required to file an income. Parents or guardians who receive benefits on the child’s behalf are not responsible for taxes. Survivor benefits are taxed if half of the child’s Social Security benefits are taxable.