02/19/2026
Hey Parents,
It’s tax time. If you have an industrious teenager 15+ or a College Student under age 26 you are still supporting. Please have a talk with them about tax filing. They need to understand the tax system as a dependent and must check the box: I am a dependent on page 2 of the 1040 item:
12a Someone can claim ☐You as a dependent
Their failure to do this can cost you from $500 to several thousand dollars. Sometimes, all for them to get a hundred dollars that was withheld from their part time job. If they don’t do this, you will have to help them amend the dependents return and end up paper filing your return!