I know it is a stupid question.
Say I file 1040, but if I were to file for both of my kids and they are dependents in my tax return, do I use 1040 for them?
Their incomes are W2 and 1099. The college kid has 1098T. From what I found, I think I should use 1040 for them, but can’t they use 1040EZ?
Aren’t you using an online program? It will decide for you. Students are generally eligible for free efiling for both federal and state by starting at irs.gov. Make sure you select an option that includes state for free, or even multiple states if that’s what’s needed.
Use a tax program (TaxAct or HRBlock, they are free) and it will pick the correct form. 1040 is always allowed even if 9/10th of the lines are blank.
Two years ago one child used a 1040EZ because she had only W2 income and didn’t have to declare any scholarships as taxable. For the second child it spit out a 1040A because of the taxable scholarship. For me the 1040 because of the AOTC…
Great, thank you.
Therefore I can just do irs.gov and pick free file, right?
My CPA has always done the taxes for me, but told me it is not worth my money to have him do the taxes for the kids and I could do it online, but I didn’t know it is just irs.gov. I finally decided to file for the kids as it is such as pain to get the non-filer statement.
Yes, all the programs are on the IRS page, or just go to TurboTax or TaxAct. Some have free state returns too, but you might not have to file a state return if it is just a small amount of earnings.
Yes, it is easier to file and use the DRT.
I use the TurboTax Freedom Edition and it’s free efile of Federal and state return for incomes under $30,000 I think.
My S only has W2 form. It generated a 1040EZ for him.
Last year when my D had kiddie tax and form 8615, it generated a 1040A. This year her taxable scholarship income was under $2,100 so no kiddie tax for her and it generated a 1040EZ.
I think one year she had babysitting income and it was considered self employment income, so it generated a schedule C and 1040.
Some of the free file companies go by income and then the filing is free.
Some forms of TurboTax like zero or free only do 1040EZ or 1040A for free, but if you need a 1040 they upgrade you to premium or deluxe or something and then it costs money.
So I always used the TurboTax Freedom Edition.
If you are under the income limit, it should do all necessary forms for free.
Yes…your kids can likely free file. Others have also told you where to find that info.
My suggestion…
Once my kids started to need to file an IRS tax return…we always did it during their spring break in March or early April. They sat down…and either my husband or I walked them through the process. We did NOT do it for them. It’s a skill they need to have…so we taught them how to do it. And really…with a 1040EZ or 1040A, it doesn’t take much time!
Jealous of the whole lot of you! Happykid has always had a bunch of self-employment income as well as multiple W2s, and is numerically challenged. She is very good at flinging everything remotely tax-related into a file during the year. I count myself lucky when she’s able to file the C-EZ. It has been the long form for her since the get-go. The day her HS buddy passes his CPA exam, I’m handing the files to him. 
I use the H&R Block and it always pick 1040 for my kids. The e-filing is included in my package anyway.