Amended 2020 Fed Tax to Change Child to Independent, But Child's Submitted 2020 Taxes Were Rejected Instantly Today

[dtweisbrod]

Successfully amended my 2020 Taxes to change adult child's status from Dependent to Independent.  Amended form was e-Filed using TurboTax and then "Accepted" by the IRS.  The only change was child's status.  Submitted child's 2020 Taxes two days later, and it was instantly rejected for 'PrimaryClaimAsDependentInd' because "SSN must not be the same as a Dependent SSN on another return filed for the same tax year."

Sounds like IRS database hasn't recognized my child's change to Independent.  What should I do?  Should I e-File the child's 2020 Tax forms again in a couple weeks?  or do we HAVE to printout child's 2020 Tax forms and mail them in?

[SweetieJean · Accepted solution]

Although your 1040-X was Accepted (received for processing by the IRS), it still takes 16 weeks to process.  So your child will have to mail his/her own return.

However,  are you sure he/she really qualifies as Independent for 2020?   Some parents are choosing not to claim their kids so that those kids can get stimulus payments.  But that's not how it works.

[dtweisbrod]

Thanks for the quick reply!

My daughter(s) should have been classified as Independent - due to the level of income they received in 2020.  I didn't realize that the COVID PUA money they received would be counted as "Income" - so I had assumed they would be classified as Dependent when I submitted my 2020 taxes.