Dependent issue

[DAD2411]

Hello everyone,

Background:  my son turned 18 in Sept. of 2021 and he earned just under 12k part time working a few nights per week and on some Saturdays.     He filed his tax return already under the turbo tax free file option.     I told him that he made too much so I would not be able to claim him as a dependent and that is how he filed.         

I just today got my Turbo tax deluxe version E-filed.     Turbo tax never asked me about how much he earned and it allowed me to still claim him as a dependent as I paid for all of his care and well being.     I forgot that he stated that nobody claimed him and now I think I have a problem.

Do I need to amend my tax return to not claim him or does my son now need to amend his return to state that he was claimed by someone else?             

[Bsch4477]

You can claim him if he didn’t provide more than half of his support. He would amend his return to say that someone else can claim him and you would claim him. However you have to mail your return. 

[xmasbaby0]

You son needs to amend his return after it has been fully processed to say that he CAN be claimed as someone else's dependent.   It seems you nor your son understood that an 18 year old can be claimed as a dependent no matter how much he earned.   You can claim him as a qualifying child dependent until the tax year when he turns 24 if he is a full-time student--no matter how much he earns.

WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?

You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2021 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:

Qualifying child

• They're related to you.
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
• No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
• They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
• They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.

Qualifying relative

• They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
• They made less than $4,300 in 2021.
• You provided more than half of their financial support.

When you add someone as a dependent, we'll ask a series of questions to make sure you can claim them. There may be other tax benefits you can get when you claim a dependent.

Related Information:

• What does "financially support another person" mean?
• What is a "qualifying person" for Head of Household?
• Does a dependent for 2020 have to live with me?
• Do I qualify for Head of Household in 2020?
• Can I claim myself or my spouse as a dependent?

If your son received the $1400 stimulus as part of his refund he is going to have to pay it back---he was not eligible to receive it.  Dependents are not eligible to receive stimulus checks.  When he amends he will owe it back.

Your own return claiming him as a dependent will have to be mailed, as stated earlier by Champ Bsch447.

[DAD2411]

thank you   

[DAD2411]

Correct - this was my error.    "It seems you nor your son understood that an 18 year old can be claimed as a dependent no matter how much he earned".      thank you!       Follow up question for next year if no changes to current rules. 

1.  Since my son is under 24 and if he is a full time student, I will be able to claim him next year as well no matter his income?   

2. He would file and state that someone else is claiming him as a  dependent?

Thank you for your assistance and support! 

[xmasbaby0]

@DAD2411 You can claim your son as a dependent if he is a full-time student UNDER the age of 24 with no earning limit for him.   Even if he makes over $4300 you can claim him as a qualified child if he is a full-time student.   If he is NOT a full-time student then you cannot claim him if he makes over $4300.

And.....he will have to say on his own return that he can be claimed.   Make sure you and your son both understand that so that he does not mess up your ability to e-file.   When a dependent says they cannot be claimed --and files first--- it makes it impossible for the parent to e-file and then the parent has to file by mail.

[DAD2411]

good news I guess - my return has been rejected by both State and the IRS.      My son's return has not yet to be processed yet as far as him getting any money so is it possible to get the IRS to reject his which he filed a week ago?    If so, do we call them at [phone number removed] or is there a way via turbo tax to request it to be rejected?     

Thank you again for your assistance and support! 

[xmasbaby0]

Sorry--no you cannot request that they reject it.   If it is accepted then he has to wait for it to be fully processed and then amend it to correct mistakes.   Meanwhile if the way he filed prevents you from e-filing, you have to file by mail.   Amending his return will not catch it up in the system for this year---you will have no choice but to file by mail.

[DAD2411]

thank you! 

[DAD2411]

another question on this topic. 

When I claim my son as a dependent, my total return goes up 800.00 and my son's total return goes down by 1400.00.   

So here is the question:  is it okay to not claim someone when I could claim them?     This seem like an easy answer money wise, but I don't want to break any rules.      

[xmasbaby0]

You are not required to claim your son.   But your son is required to say on his own tax return that he CAN be claimed if he could be claimed---whether you claim him or not.   

For your son:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/dependents/help/when-do-i-have-to-answer-yes-to-being-claimed-as-a...

Your son's refund is going down by $1400 because he is not entitled to that $1400 recovery rebate credit.

[DAD2411]

I will mail my return in and also help my son amend his return and to pay back the 1400.00 once it is processed.   

I appreciate your knowledge and assistance - thank you! 

[Bsch4477]

While you don’t have to claim him, he still has to say on his return that someone else can claim him. And in that case he will not be eligible for that $1400. 

[DAD2411]

thank you!