Amending a return to remove dependent for stimulus.

[ringfence]

My adult son was unemployed last year and living at home. According to TurboTax, he was eligible, so we filed a federal return, which has been accepted, that listed him as a dependent. He decided to file his own return to receive the stimulus checks but didn't realize we already had him listed, so his return was rejected. We earned too much to receive any stimulus checks. Are we allowed to file an amended return, removing him as a dependent? If so, what reason should we give in the box marked "Explanation of Changes"? How soon will the change be registered at the federal level so that he can refile his own return? 

[KathrynG3]

Yes. You can file an amended return and not claim your son as a dependent. 

The reason could be that you are correcting the dependency claimed.

Your amended return for the federal and state will take 12 to 16 weeks to process and register the change. 

He will have to mail his return for the federal and state and can do that any time if he could be considered independent.

For more information, see: 

How do I add or remove a dependent?

Who can I claim as my dependent?

What does "financially support another person" mean?

@ringfence

[VolvoGirl]

He doesn't have to wait to file since he has to mail his return.  Even if you amend he has to mail.  Once a ssn has been used he can't efile it again.  

[ringfence]

Thanks to both of you for the information. So the sequence of events should be that I e-file an amended 1040-X straight away, removing him as a dependent, and he should mail his own return as an independent filer, also today. Will the IRS then, over the next 12 weeks or more, reconcile the new filings with my already-accepted but incorrect return? I suppose I am concerned that the IRS might reject my son's mailed return because my incorrect return had not been updated yet in their system.

[1roze4u]

my son was living with his girlfriend and her daughter but they recently spilt up she wants her stimulus money for her daughter. what to do?

[xmasbaby0]

@1roze4u   Not sure what you think you have to do about your son and his GF or the stimulus money.    Explain more.   Do you mean your son claimed the GF's child on his tax return?   Did his GF work in 2020 and/or file a 2020 tax return?

Did your son and the GF live together for all of 2020?   Did he claim his GF as a dependent?  What --if any--income did GF have in 2020?

[spannterri80]

I will not be filing two of my dependents for 2022 tax season.

The children are now living back with their biological mother.

how do I stop stimulus checks coming to me for the two children?

[VolvoGirl]

So far there are not any more Stimulus payment coming.   To get the 3rd Stimulus payment you have to claim it on your 2021 tax return now.  So if you are not claiming them on your return you won't get it.   Make sure you have the right amount listed on 1040 line 30.   Line 30 is only if you didn't get the full amount or qualify for more.