In the United States, a person who earns over a certain amount has to file taxes, depending on filing status and age. Technically, anyone who can be claimed as a dependent should not have to file because the majority of their living expenses were paid by someone else. If a dependent earns more than the minimum allowable amount, they are no longer considered a dependent and must file taxes.
You can claim yourself - as long as you are not also claimed by someone else (typically a parent or guardian). For instance - a 21 year old who is a full time student, but earned $5,000 working part time, could be claimed as a dependent on his parents' return as long as they were providing at least 50% support. If claimed on the parents' return as a dependent, then he could not claim himself as a dependent also on his own return. An elderly parent living with (or with the support of) an adult child could face the same dilemma. The parent could be a dependent on her adult son's return if he is providing more than 50% of her support - even though she might have some taxable income from interest or work. But she could then not claim herself as a dependent on her own return.
Yes
yes
No you do not have to file unless someone is claiming you as a dependent. Then file jointly with them.
Absolutely, positively not.Whether your parents or anyone else claims you as a dependent has absolutely no effect on your obligation or ability to file taxes. Some people mistakenly believe that if your parents claim you as a dependent, they claim your income, your withholding and your refund, too. This is absolutely not true.People who make more than a certain amount are obligated to file taxes. However, ANYONE is permitted to file taxes. If you are due a refund, you must file taxes in order to get the refund. Your parents cannot get your refund for you. Whether your parents can claim you as a dependent has absolutely nothing to do with you. You must file your own taxes for your own income and withholdings. And if you owe taxes, you are obligated to file and pay them.
Yes you can it just depends what agency you file your taxes with
Yes, she does - if she is employed and earning her own money.
just for the TAX year of death not after it
Taxes are not age-dependent. In general, if you make money, then you have to file taxes. In some cases parents are allowed to fold the income of their minor children into their own tax returns, but if you have income at all, then SOMEBODY has to pay taxes on it.
I believe you need a dependent to have a household.
Yes this could be possible.
For 2010 I was separated from my wife. For the 2010 year she was on SSI. How should I file my taxes? I had to pay her doctor bills and other maintenance expences also. Can I file "head of household" with her as a dependent? or, should I file single?
Your wife is not a dependent, however, you can file a joint return (meaning that you and your wife file a single tax return for both of you) which will effectively give you a tax benefit for supporting your wife (assuming that you do support her).
I don't think you can file jointly with a non spouse, however if one of you is not working, can be a dependent of the other.