3803: Parents' Election to Report Child's Interest and Dividends (2024)
California · FTB · Used for tax years 2024
California Form 3803 lets parents elect to report their child’s interest, dividends, and capital gain distributions on their own return. It calculates the income to report and the tax on the first $2,600 of that income, and is attached to Form 540 or Form 540NR.
Who files this form
California Form FTB 3803 is for parents electing to report a child’s interest and dividends on their own return.
For tax year 2024, the form states that:
- The child must be under age 19, or under age 24 and a full-time student. The form refers readers to the instructions for details.
- If the total of the child’s taxable interest, ordinary dividends, and capital gain distributions on line 4 is $13,000 or more, do not file this form. The child must file their own return to report the income.
Attach this form to the parents’ Form 540 or Form 540NR.
What you'll need
Have the following information ready to complete the form:
- Parents’ names as shown on the return and the parent’s SSN or ITIN.
- Child’s first name, middle initial, last name, and SSN or ITIN.
- Child’s taxable interest and tax-exempt interest, listed separately.
- Child’s ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions.
The completed form must be attached to the parents’ Form 540 or Form 540NR.
How to file
Attach Form FTB 3803 to the parents’ Form 540 or Form 540NR. If you attach more than one Form FTB 3803, check the box near the top of the form.
Add the tax from line 9 of each Form FTB 3803 to any tax entered on Form 540 or Form 540NR, line 31. Check the box labeled “FTB 3803.”
The supplied form does not give a mailing address or e-filing directions.
Common mistakes
- Including tax-exempt interest on line 1a. Report it separately on line 1b. Do not include it on line 1a.
- Filing this form when line 4 is $13,000 or more. The form says the child must file their own return to report the income.
- Completing lines 5 and 6 when line 4 is $2,600 or less. Skip those lines and go to line 7.
- Missing the nominee reminder. If the child received dividends or capital gain distributions as a nominee, the form directs you to the instructions.
- Forgetting the tax on the parents’ return. Add line 9 from each Form FTB 3803 to the tax on Form 540 or Form 540NR, line 31, and check the “FTB 3803” box.
Questions people ask
What if my child has no ordinary dividends?
Enter 0 on line 2.
Which income amounts go into line 4?
Add taxable interest from line 1a, ordinary dividends from line 2, and capital gain distributions from line 3.
How is the tax in Part II calculated for 2024?
Enter $1,300 on line 7. Subtract it from line 4 and enter the result on line 8, using 0 if the result is zero or less. If line 8 is less than $1,300, multiply it by 1% and enter the result on line 9. Otherwise, enter $13.00 on line 9.
Where do I report the amount on line 6?
The form directs you to the instructions for where to report it. Those instructions were not included in the supplied text.