PriorTax | Tax for Certain Children Who Have Investment Income of More than $1,900 - Form 8615

Tax for Certain Children Who Have Investment Income of More than $1,900 - Form 8615

Form 8615 is used to figure the tax for certain children who have investment income over $1,900. Their investment income is then taxed at their parent’s rate, if that rate is higher than the child’s.

Form 8615 must be filed by any child who

  • Has over $1,900 of investment income in a given year
  • Is required to file a tax return
  • Is under 18 at the end of the year, is 18 and did not have earned income amounting to more than half his support, or is a full-time student between the ages of 18 and 24 and did not have earned income amounting to more than half his support.
  • Has at least one parent alive at the end of the year, and
  • Does not file a joint return for the year


  • For the purposes of this form, investment income is considered all taxable income other than earned income. Investment income includes taxable interest, ordinary dividends, capital gains (including capital gain distributions), rents, royalties, social security benefits, pension and annuity income, and income received as the beneficiary of a trust.