Kids, Stocks and Taxes

Your children's investment income may be subject to kiddie-tax rules.

I want to buy 50 shares of stock for each of my two children through Sharebuilder.com. What are the tax implications of minor children owning stock in a custodial account?

Children younger than 19 or full-time students younger than 24 (assuming they do not provide more than half of their own support) may be subject to kiddie-tax rules. The first $950 of each child’s investment income in both 2010 and 2011 is tax-free, and the next $950 is taxed at the child’s own rate. Any investment income above $1,900 is taxed at the parents’ higher rate. However, the higher rate applies only to a child’s investment income, not to wages or self-employment income.

For some ideas of stocks that are likely to get kids interested in investing, see 5 Stocks Kids Would Love for the Holidays.

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Kimberly Lankford
Contributing Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.