I would talk to a tax attorney.

No, this isn't a question for a tax attorney. It's a basic question to ask of a tax return preparer.

Ask whoever does your return. If you do your own, then you need to find your way to the right answer. The fact that they live with you is irrelevant to the question of whether they have to file a return.

They are your dependents. You are supporting them. They can file a return but will have to state that they are claimed as a dependent by someone else. They probably will each get some money back

OP is using TurboTax and filing him/herself. S/he is not using a tax preparer. I'd ask an attorney (mainly because I know a couple, on friendly terms) to make sure.

Having been audited, I'd do everything within my power to keep that from happening again.

Did the children's employers deduct anything from what they made? If not they should not be able to get any thing back. If they did then the children should file. Of course they may end up having to pay taxes if they file. Good practice for them is to go to irs.gov and have them each print out the 1040EZ form and complete rather than doing it for them on TurboTax.

Edited to add this form on dependents. Page 4 may be of interest.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf

chloecat, OP posts a link from the Intuit website. Does that mean that's how she's preparing the return? Maybe, maybe not. That source is as likely to pop up (or more likely even) as any other from a key word search.

These are very basic questions, so much so that many tax lawyers (and many CPAs) would have to look up to answer. This CPA (moi!) would need to look it up because the numbers and amounts matter and change from year to year. I never spent much time on individual returns anyhow but guessing or assuming are never a good idea and I try not to answer questions when I don't have all the facts.

As to whether this parent provided more than half the support, that depends on what was done with the money the kids earned, how much the parent provided, whether the person is divorced and many have a dependent sharing agreement embedded in that, yada yada. (Sorry Rose, you too have jumped to a conclusion that may or may not be correct).

You all should be sure your returns are prepared in compliance with the law to reflect the minimum tax liability you legally owe. Not to avoid audits.

I do use turbo tax...my taxes have been pretty straight forward the last few years...but I wasn't sure how to proceed with both kids working part time. That makes sense, I claim them as dependents but they wouldn't on their own tax return. And yes, both had deductions. Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

Thank you Rose, I think that is exactly what I needed to know.

Elmer: I provide full support for my kids, that is why I stated they live with me full time..I was just trying to give some background but I do think Rose is correct.

Suffice it to say - it may very well be as you say. It also may not be and there could be other things to deal with or address. My best suggestion for you to get competent advice from people you have given real numbers to. The responses you've gotten here from amateurs are well intentioned but not necessarily well informed. Even call the IRS taxpayer assistance line if that's all that's available to you.

I learned early in my career to not argue with people who think they know more than I do, especially after what's now decades of continual study and practice as a professional. If you're happy, be happy.

Elmer, I am not going to argue with your credentials because I have none. I was simply stating how it was for me for many years. I raised 4 children who all had part time jobs as teens. I use H & R Blocks program and have done our family's taxes for about 20 years now. When she uses the program to do the kid's taxes it will ask if they can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return, answer yes and it should work out correctly.