Any tax experts here?

[289fia_cobra]

Trying to see if my daughter needs to even file for PA State Tax.

Jessica turned 21 in 2012; she worked during the summer at Stanford Univ. and made a couple thousand.

She has been going to Philadelphia Univ. where she get's $8,000 grant each year for the past 4 years - this is her last year.

She does NOT work at Philly.

So the question is, does she need to file in PA. I think it's only because she received a grant in the same year she made a little money in CA.

Prior to being 21 and working, we filed her as a dependent and such, with Turbo Tax and for the last 3 years, we just file a Fed. and CA State tax form but this year, I now see "File for PA State" as well.

IMO, I think it's Turbo Tax's way of getting a quick $40 just to tell Jessica, you owe us nothing and we owe you nothing. Have a nice day. But then again, perhaps there's more to it.

[patrickt]

I don't know what that $8k represents, don't know where anybody lives, and don't know what states have reciprocal agreements with PA. That said:

Who Must File: https://revenue-pa.custhelp.com/app/...-tax-return%3F and

PA Educational Grants: https://revenue-pa.custhelp.com/app/...ants%20taxable

... and I will tell you that, as a general broad-brush rule, you are usually better off filing a return disclosing funds received, and explaining why you owe no tax on them, than you are not filing any return at all.... Of course, there are exceptions to every rule.

[twobjshelbys]

Was that "couple thousand" earned income? Did she get a W2? Were state and federal taxes withheld? If so she should file to get a refund of that money. It may cost more to use turbotax to file the return than to simply get the non-resident paper form and mail it.

[FWB]

i would file the PA state....just to be sure. you don't need to use the turbo tax for PA's taxes their form is so simple ......i believe you can do it online on the PA site.....PA is 2.3%, if she already had withholding taken out it will be a wash.

[twobjshelbys]

Also I'm doing my taxes today and some grants generate a 1099. Pretty much if she got any form from the government with a PA address she should file

[289fia_cobra]

Thanks everyone. I just proceeded with the Turbo Tax PA edition to make it legal. No taxes to pay and no returns. It was what I expected but to ensure she doesn't get a knock on the door 10 years from now from an Auditor.

[1985 CCX]

How can I write off the Cobra?