Yes, teenagers can get a tax refund if they earned income and taxes were taken out

A teenager who worked and had taxes withheld from paychecks may be owed a refund. The IRS does not have an age limit on who can receive one. What matters is whether the teenager earned enough income to owe taxes, and whether their employer or another payer took money out for federal income tax.

Many teenagers earn less than the threshold amount required to file a tax return, so they would not owe taxes. But if taxes were withheld anyway — which happens often with part-time jobs — filing a return is the only way to get that money back. The teenager (or a parent filing on their behalf) needs to file the return to claim the refund.

Key Takeaways

  • A teenager can file their own tax return if they earned income, or a parent can file on their behalf if the teenager is a dependent.
  • If a teenager earned less than about $13,850 in 2023 (the standard deduction for a single filer), they likely do not owe taxes but may still have a refund coming if taxes were withheld.
  • The teenager will need a Social Security number, a W-2 form from each employer, and any 1099 forms if they had self-employment income.
  • A teenager can file using free IRS tools like IRS Free File, or through a tax preparer, and can receive the refund by direct deposit or check.

When a teenager needs to file for a refund

A teenager must file a return if taxes were withheld from their paychecks, even if they earned below the threshold where taxes are owed. This is the only way to recover that withheld money. The threshold varies slightly by filing status and year — for 2023, a single dependent teenager with only W-2 wages needed to earn more than about $13,850 to owe taxes, but many teenagers earning far less than that still had taxes taken out.

A teenager also needs to file if they had self-employment income (such as from a side business or freelance work) of $400 or more, regardless of whether taxes were withheld. Self-employment income comes with its own tax obligations separate from regular wages.

If no taxes were withheld and the teenager earned below the threshold, filing is not required — but it may still be worth doing if the teenager is owed a refund from tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which can result in a refund even when no taxes are owed.

Who can file the return: the teenager or a parent

A teenager can file their own tax return if they have the documents and want to. There is no age requirement to file. However, if the teenager is claimed as a dependent on a parent's return, the parent may need to file the teenager's return as well, or the teenager can file separately — both approaches are allowed.

In practice, many parents file their teenager's return as part of their own tax filing, especially if the teenager's income is straightforward (just W-2 wages from one job). Some teenagers file their own return, particularly if they have self-employment income or want to handle it themselves. The teenager and parent should coordinate to make sure the return is filed only once.

Documents and information needed

To file, the teenager will need a Social Security number (or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number if they do not have a Social Security number). They will also need a W-2 form from each employer, which the employer must send by January 31 of the year after the work year. If the teenager had self-employment income, they will need records of income and expenses, and may need to file a Schedule C form.

The teenager should also have any 1099 forms they received for other income, such as 1099-INT for interest, 1099-DIV for dividends, or 1099-NEC for contract work. If the teenager is a dependent, the parent's tax return information may be needed as well, depending on the filing method used.

How to file the return

The IRS offers free filing tools through IRS Free File, which is available to most teenagers and families below a certain income threshold. The teenager (or parent) can use IRS Free File to file online at no cost. The IRS website lists which companies participate and what income limits explore.

Alternatively, a tax preparer or accountant can file the return for a fee. Many libraries and community organizations also offer free tax preparation help through programs like VITA (Volunteer Income Tax information), which serve low- and moderate-income households. A parent can also file the teenager's return using tax software they purchase, though this is less common if the teenager's income is straightforward.

How the refund is received

Once the return is filed and processed, the IRS will send the refund. The fastest method is direct deposit to a bank account — the teenager can provide their own account information, or the parent's account if the teenager does not have one. Direct deposit typically arrives within 21 days of the IRS accepting the return.

If the teenager does not have a bank account, the IRS can mail a check instead, which takes longer. The teenager can also request the refund be applied to next year's taxes, though this is uncommon for teenagers. The IRS will send a notice showing the refund amount and method once the return is processed.

Tax credits that may increase a teenager's refund

A teenager may be owed a refund larger than the taxes withheld if they may have access to for certain tax credits. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the most common one for teenagers with low to moderate income from work. This credit can result in a refund of several hundred dollars even if no taxes were owed.

To claim the EITC, the teenager must have earned income, meet age and relationship requirements (which vary), and have income below a certain level. The IRS website has a tool to check if a teenager qualifies. Other credits like the Child and Dependent Care Credit may explore in specific situations, but EITC is the one most teenagers encounter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a teenager file their own tax return without a parent's permission?

Yes, a teenager can file their own return. However, if the teenager is a dependent on a parent's return, the parent must claim that dependency status on their own return. The teenager and parent should coordinate to avoid filing conflicting returns, which can delay processing.

What if the teenager's employer did not send a W-2 form?

Contact the employer and ask for the W-2. If the employer does not respond by mid-February, the teenager can file a complaint with the IRS using Form 13909. In the meantime, the teenager can file using the income amount they remember, and amend the return once the W-2 arrives.

Does a teenager need a bank account to get a refund?

No. The IRS can mail a check to the teenager's address. Direct deposit is faster, but not required. If the teenager does not have a bank account, they can provide the parent's account information for direct deposit, or request a mailed check instead.

Can a teenager claim themselves as a dependent instead of being claimed by a parent?

No. A teenager who meets the dependent test (usually because they are under 19, or under 24 and a full-time student, and the parent provides more than half their support) must be claimed by the parent. The teenager cannot choose to claim themselves.

What if the teenager earned money but no taxes were withheld?

If no taxes were withheld and the teenager earned below the filing threshold, they are not required to file. However, they should still file if they may may have access to for the EITC or another refundable credit, since these can result in a refund even when no taxes are owed.