Form 8814, Parents’ Election To Report Child’s Interest and Dividends
Form 8814 lets a parent report a child’s interest, dividends, and capital gain distributions on the parent’s own return, so the child does not have to file. Fill in the official IRS PDF below and download it.
This is the genuine IRS PDF, unmodified. Source: IRS official page.
What is 8814?
When a child’s only income is interest, dividends, and capital gain distributions, and the total falls under the limit in the form’s instructions, the parent can elect to fold that income into their own return using Form 8814 rather than filing a separate return for the child. The form figures how much of the child’s income is tax free, how much is taxed at the child’s low rate, and how much is added to the parent’s income.
The election has trade-offs. It is convenient, but including the child’s income can raise the parent’s adjusted gross income, which may affect deductions and credits that phase out with income, and the child’s income cannot be offset by the child’s own deductions. The election is available only when the child meets the age and income conditions in the instructions, and a separate Form 8814 is filed for each child.
Who files 8814?
- Parents of a child under the age limit whose only income is interest, dividends, and capital gain distributions
- Parents who want to skip filing a separate return for the child when the income is under the threshold
- Custodial parents making the election under the rules for divorced or separated parents
- Parents filing a separate Form 8814 for each qualifying child
How to fill out 8814
- Check the eligibility rules: the child’s age, the types of income, the income limit, and the requirement that no estimated payments or withholding elections stand in the way.
- Enter the child’s name and Social Security number, then report the child’s taxable interest, ordinary dividends, qualified dividends, and capital gain distributions.
- Work through the lines to find the portion of income taxed on your return and the small tax figured at the child’s rate.
- Carry the income amounts to your Form 1040 as directed, and add the child’s tax from Form 8814 to the tax line via Schedule 2 or the 1040 instructions.
- Attach the completed form to your return, one Form 8814 per child, then download the PDF for your records.
Quick fill 8814 on this page
Prefer to see the form itself while you type? Open 8814 in the editor to fill it on the actual pages, add a signature, and download.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Form 8814 or file a return for my child?
Filing a separate return for the child is sometimes cheaper, because the election can increase your AGI and shrink income-based deductions and credits, and qualified dividends or capital gain distributions may be taxed more favorably on the child’s own return. Run the numbers both ways before electing.
Can I use Form 8814 if my child has wages from a job?
No. The election is only available when the child’s income consists entirely of interest, dividends, and capital gain distributions. Any earned income, such as wages, means the child must file their own return if a return is required.
What is the income limit for the election?
The child’s total investment income must be under the threshold in the current Form 8814 instructions, which adjusts periodically. Check irs.gov for this year’s figure before making the election.