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Tax for Children Under Age 14 OMB No. 1545-0998

Who Have Investment Income of More Than $1,100 Form 8615

© See instructions below and on back. Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

Attachment

© Attach ONLY to the Child’s Form 1040, Form 1040A, or Form 1040NR. Sequence No. 33

General Instructions

Purpose of Form. For children under

age 14, investment income (such as

taxable interest and dividends) over

$1,100 is taxed at the parent’s rate if the

parent’s rate is higher than the child’s

rate. If the child’s investment income is

more than $1,100, use this form to see if

any of the child’s investment income is

taxed at the parent’s rate and, if so, to

figure the child’s tax. Note: The parent may be able to elect to

report the child’s interest and dividends

on his or her return. If the parent makes

this election, the child will not have to

file a return or Form 8615. For more

details, see the instructions for Form

1040 or Form 1040A, or get Form 8814,

Additional Information. For more

details, get Pub. 929, Tax Rules for

Children and Dependents.

Who Must File. Generally, Form 8615

must be filed for any child who was

under age 14 on January 1, 1992, and

who had more than $1,100 of

investment income. If neither parent was

alive on December 31, 1991, do not use

Form 8615. Instead, figure the child’s tax

in the normal manner.

(Instructions continue on back.)

Child’s name shown on return Child’s social security number

Parent’s name (first, initial, and last). (Caution: See instructions on back before completing.) Parent’s social security number

Parent’s filing status (check one):

Figure child’s net investment income

Enter child’s investment income, such as taxable interest and dividend income (see the

instructions). (If this amount is $1,100 or less, stop here; do not file this form.)

1

1

If the child DID NOT itemize deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040 or Form 1040NR), enter $1,100.

If the child ITEMIZED deductions, see the instructions

2

2

Subtract line 2 from line 1. (If the result is zero or less, stop here; do not complete the rest of this

form but ATTACH it to the child’s return.)

3

3

4 Enter child’s taxable income (from Form 1040, line 37; Form 1040A, line 22; or Form 1040NR, line 35) 4

5 Compare the amounts on lines 3 and 4. Enter the smaller of the two amounts here © 5

Figure tentative tax based on the tax rate of the parent listed on line A

Enter parent’s taxable income (from Form 1040, line 37; Form 1040A, line 22; Form 1040EZ, line

5; or Form 1040NR, line 35). If the parent transferred property to a trust, see instructions

6

6

Enter the total, if any, of the net investment income from Forms 8615, line 5, of ALL OTHER children

of the parent. (Do not include the amount from line 5 above.)

7

7

8 Add lines 5, 6, and 7 8

9

Tax on line 8 based on the parent’s filing status (see instructions). If from Schedule D,

enter amount from line 20 of that Schedule D here ©

9

10 Enter parent’s tax (from Form 1040, line 38; Form 1040A, line 23; Form 1040EZ, line 7; or Form 1040NR, line

36). If from Schedule D, enter amount from line 20 of that Schedule D here © 10

Subtract line 10 from line 9. (If line 7 is blank, enter on line 13 the amount from line 11; skip lines

12a and 12b.)

11

11

12a Add lines 5 and 7 12a

b Divide line 5 by line 12a. Enter the result as a decimal (rounded to two places) 12b .

13 Multiply line 11 by line 12b © 13

Figure child’s tax

Note: If lines 4 and 5 above are the same, go to line 16.

14 Subtract line 5 from line 4 14

15

15 Tax on line 14 based on the child’s filing status (see instructions). If from Schedule D,

enter amount from line 20 of that Schedule D here ©

16 Add lines 13 and 15 16

17 Tax on line 4 based on the child’s filing status (see instructions). If from Schedule D, check here © 17

18 Enter the larger of line 16 or 17 here and on Form 1040, line 38; Form 1040A, line 23; or Form 1040NR,

line 36. Be sure to check the box for “Form 8615” even if line 17 is more than line 16 © 18

For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see back of form. Form 8615 (1991)

A B

C

Single, Married filing jointly, Married filing separately, Head of household, or Qualifying widow(er)

Incomplete Information for Parent. If a

child’s parent or guardian cannot obtain

the information needed to complete

Form 8615 before the due date of the

child’s return, reasonable estimates of

the parent’s taxable income or filing

status and the net investment income of

the parent’s other children may be

made. The appropriate line of Form 8615

must be marked “Estimated.” For more

details, see Pub. 929.

Investment Income. As used on this

form, “investment income” includes all

taxable income other than earned

income as defined on page 2. It includes

income such as taxable interest,

dividends, capital gains, rents, royalties,

etc. It also includes pension and annuity

income and income (other than earned

income) received as the beneficiary of a

trust.

Parent’s Election To Report Child’s

Interest and Dividends.

Cat No. 64113U

3
Form 8615 (1991) Page 2

Line 6. Enter the taxable income shown

on the parent’s tax return. If the parent’s

taxable income is less than zero, enter

zero on line 6. If the parent filed a joint

return, enter the taxable income shown

on that return even if the parent’s spouse

is not the child’s parent. If the parent

transferred property to a trust which sold

or exchanged the property during the

year at a gain, include any gain that was

taxed to the trust under section 644 in

the amount entered on line 6. Write

“Section 644” and the amount on the

dotted line next to line 6. Also, see the

instructions for line 10.

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We

ask for the information on this form to

carry out the Internal Revenue laws of

the United States. You are required to

give us the information. We need it to

ensure that you are complying with

these laws and to allow us to figure and

collect the right amount of tax.

The time needed to complete and file

this form will vary depending on

individual circumstances. The estimated

average time is: Recordkeeping,

13 min.; Learning about the law or the

form, 12 min.; Preparing the form,

44 min.; and Copying, assembling, and

sending the form to the IRS, 17 min.

If the child had earned income, use

the following worksheet to figure the

amount to enter on line 1. But, if the

child files Form 2555, Foreign Earned

Income, has a net loss from selfemployment, or claims a net operating

loss deduction, do not use the

worksheet below. Instead, use the

worksheet in Pub. 929 to figure the

amount to enter on line 1.

Line 7. If the individual identified as the

parent on this Form 8615 is also

identified as the parent on any other

Form 8615, add the amounts, if any,

from line 5 on each of the other Forms

8615 and enter the total on line 7.

If you have comments concerning the

accuracy of these time estimates or

suggestions for making this form more

simple, we would be happy to hear from

you. You can write to both the IRS and

the Office of Management and Budget

at the addresses listed in the

instructions of the tax return with which

this form is filed.

Line 10. Enter the tax shown on the

parent’s tax return. If the parent filed a

joint return, enter the tax shown on that

return even if the parent’s spouse is not

the child’s parent.

If line 6 includes any gain taxed to a

trust under section 644, add the tax

imposed under section 644(a)(2)(A) to

the tax shown on the parent’s return.

Enter the total on line 10 instead of

entering the tax from the parent’s return.

Write “Section 644” on the dotted line

next to line 10.

Line Instructions

Worksheet (keep for your records)

Enter the amount from the

child’s Form 1040, line 23;

Form 1040A, line 14; or

Form 1040NR, line 23,

whichever applies

1.

Lines A and B. If the child’s parents

were married to each other and filed a

joint return, enter the name and social

security number (SSN) of the parent who

is listed first on the joint return. For

example, if the father’s name is listed

first on the return and his SSN is

entered in the block labeled “Your social

security number,” enter his name on line

A and his SSN on line B.

Enter the child’s earned

income (defined below)

plus any deduction the

child claims on Form 1040,

line 28, or Form 1040NR,

line 27, whichever applies

2.

Subtract line 2 from line 1.

Enter the result here and

on Form 8615, line 1

3.

If the parents were married but filed

separate returns, enter the name and

SSN of the parent who had the higher

taxable income. If you do not know

which parent had the higher taxable

income, see Pub. 929.

Amended Return. If after the child’s

return is filed, the parent’s taxable

income is changed or the net investment

income of any of the parent’s other

children is changed, the child’s tax must

be refigured using the adjusted amounts.

If the child’s tax is changed as a result

of the adjustment(s), file Form 1040X,

Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax

Return, to correct the child’s tax.

Earned income includes wages, tips,

and other payments received for

personal services performed. Generally,

earned income is the total of the

amounts reported on Form 1040, lines 7,

12, and 19; Form 1040A, line 7; or Form

1040NR, lines 8, 13, and 20.

If the parents were unmarried, treated

as unmarried for Federal income tax

purposes, or separated either by a

divorce or separate maintenance decree,

enter the name and SSN of the parent

who had custody of the child for most of

the year (the custodial parent).

Exception. If the custodial parent

remarried and filed a joint return with his

or her spouse, enter the name and SSN

of the person listed first on the joint

return, even if that person is not the

child’s parent. If the custodial parent and

his or her spouse filed separate returns,

enter the name and SSN of the person

with the higher taxable income, even if

that person is not the child’s parent. Alternative Minimum Tax. A child

whose tax is figured on Form 8615 may

be subject to the alternative minimum

tax. For details, get Form 6251,

Alternative Minimum Tax—Individuals,

and its instructions.

Line 2. If the child itemized deductions,

enter on line 2 the greater of:

● $550 plus the portion of the amount

on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 26 (or

Schedule A (Form 1040NR), line 10), that

is directly connected with the production

of the investment income on Form 8615,

line 1; OR

● $1,100.

Note: If the parents were unmarried but

lived together during the year with the

child, enter the name and SSN of the

parent who had the higher taxable

income.

(Section references are to the Internal

Revenue Code.)

Line 9. Figure the tax using the Tax

Table, Tax Rate Schedules, or Schedule

D (Form 1040), Capital Gains and

Line 15. Figure the tax using the Tax

Table, Tax Rate Schedule X, or Schedule

D, whichever applies. If line 14 is more

than $49,300 and includes any net

capital gain, the tax may be less if

Schedule D is used to figure the tax.

See Pub. 929 for details on how to

figure the net capital gain included on

line 14 and how to complete Part IV of

Schedule D.

Line 17. Figure the tax as if these rules

did not apply. For example, if the child

files Schedule D and can use Part IV to

figure his or her tax, complete Part IV on

the child’s actual Schedule D.

If Schedule D is used to figure the tax,

enter on Form 8615, line 9, the amount

from line 27 of that Schedule D. Also,

enter the amount from line 20 of that

Schedule D in the space next to line 9.

the parent’s

filing status

is

the amount on

Form 8615,

line 8, is over:

● Single

● Married filing jointly or

Qualifying widow(er)

● Married filing

separately

● Head of household

$49,300

$82,150

$41,075

$70,450

AND

Line 1. If the child had no earned

income (defined later), enter the child’s

Losses, whichever applies. If any net

capital gain is included on lines 5, 6,

and/or 7, the tax on the amount on line

8 may be less if Part IV of Schedule D

can be used to figure the tax. See Pub.

929 for details on how to figure the net

capital gain included on line 8 and how

to complete Schedule D. Schedule D

should be used to figure the tax if:

adjusted gross income (from Form 1040,

line 32; Form 1040A, line 17; or Form

1040NR, line 31).