Do I need to do a 2020 amended tax return because I said someone can/will be claiming me as a dependent, when in fact they were not able to/did not claim me?

[matthew3777]

Side note, if my status changes from dependent to independent would I be able to claim/receive any of the stimulus/economic support?

[ColeenD3]

There are two questions regarding dependency. Can and will are two different things. If you meet the qualifications as a dependent, you are not independent, even if nobody claims you.

Qualifying Child

Relationship — the taxpayer’s child or stepchild (whether by blood or adoption), foster child, sibling or step-sibling, or a descendant of one of these.

Residence — has the same principal residence as the taxpayer for more than half the tax year. Exceptions apply, in certain cases, for children of divorced or separated parents, kidnapped children, temporary absences, and for children who were born or died during the year.

Age — must be under the age of 19 at the end of the tax year, or under the age of 24 if a full-time student for at least five months of the year, or be permanently and totally disabled at any time during the year.

Support — did not provide more than one-half of his/her own support for the year.

Qualifying Relative

You can claim a child, relative, friend, fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2020 taxes as long as they meet all of the following requirements :

• You provided more than half of their financial support. More info
• They made less than $4,300 in gross income during 2020 unless they are a qualifying child.
• They live with you or they are related to you. (Your relative must live at your residence all year or be on the list of “relatives who do not live with you” in Publication 501.) 
• They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren't (or won't be) claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• You are not being claimed as a dependent on someone else's return.

[matthew3777]

So on my return, I filed it as saying yes someone can claim me, and yes they are going to claim me. The way it actually played out is, they could not claim me as a dependent, so I assume my return should list me as independent (which it doesn’t) 

[DawnC]

Are you saying you thought your parents were going to claim you but did not.....because it turns out they can't?    You would need to file an amendment in that case to change your answers to those 2 questions.   But before you do that and to avoid potential issues later, be sure that you can't be claimed.   

What are your age and student status?   And most importantly, do you provide over half of your own support from earned income?  Or by other means?   

Rules for Claiming a Dependent on Your Tax Return  - this may help you determine if they can or can't claim you.    And if you need more clarification on the support test, you can use this worksheet.   

[matthew3777]

So, yes, when I filed my taxes a month before my parents I asked if they were going to claim me as a dependent to which they said yes. Reason being, I hit every requirement of being able to be claimed, with the exception of being under the age 24 at the end of 2020, because I was 24.  I’m a full time student, in my senior year of college and check all the other boxes of being a dependent 

[ThomasM125]

So, they can't claim you, consequently you should amend your return to reflect that and then you will receive your stimulus payments.