Do I have to claim my teenage son's income as household income on my return?

[jabberjaw23]

I'm a single dad with full custody of my teenage son.  He is still a full time student that started a part time job last year.  Do I have to claim his income on my return as household income?  He earned roughly $5,000 last year, when I put his income in my return it had a huge impact on my return.

[TurboTaxTara · Accepted solution]

Anyone who earns income needs to file their own return: https://turbotax.community.intuit.ca/replies/2647980

Then, if you're claiming your son as a dependant, you'll need to enter his net income in the dependant section of your return. Since you need your son's net income for your return, you should prepare his return first.

[jabberjaw23]

I have filed his return already, and when his income was entered, it lowered my return.  Why am I being penalized for having my teenage son earn his own money.  This in my mind is not household income, this is his own money to save for school.

[taxnano]

Unfortunately that is the rule. I am only here to ask if your son goes to college or university you should be able to transfer up to $5000 of his tuition to yourself. I noticed this was missing from the discussions up till this point assuming he wasn't in high school.