Kiddie Tax: Definition and Examples

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What is the kiddie tax?
Kiddie tax 2025
- The first $1,350 of unearned income is tax-free. (Why $1,350? That's the standard deduction for dependents.)
- The next $1,350 of unearned income is taxed at the child's tax rate.
- Any unearned income above $2,700 will be taxed at the parent or guardian's marginal tax rate.
Kiddie tax example
The bottom line
Next steps
Article sources
- 1. Senate Committee on Finance. The Real Effect of the “Kiddie Tax” Change. Accessed Feb 2, 2024.