I accidentally marked "someone can claim" me as a dependent but no one did.

[TommyC]

I checked in with a tax rep, and he said as long as your parents don't claim you, you should be good to get the payment. However, I got through to an IRS specialist working for our city congresswoman and he said he's not sure. Nothing should need to be done, we just may be later in the process because more cross-checking needs to be done, but there is also a chance that we will have to amend. I would say wait until the deposits have all been made before sending an amendment!

[taxingmangakan]

There are so many of us who made this mistake. If no one claims us and if we don't even qualify to be a dependent, to be written off just because we checked a box that gives permission for us to be claimed is not fair at all. In the end we are NOT dependents. I started hashtag #notadependent on Twitter to try to get more word out about people in our position. To be missing out on some life saving money when you are starving or unable to buy the essentials just because of a small mistake that shouldn't even dictate our qualifications is not okay.

[macuser_22]

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@taxingmangakan wrote:

There are so many of us who made this mistake. If no one claims us and if we don't even qualify to be a dependent, to be written off just because we checked a box that gives permission for us to be claimed is not fair at all. In the end we are NOT dependents. I started hashtag #notadependent on Twitter to try to get more word out about people in our position. To be missing out on some life saving money when you are starving or unable to buy the essentials just because of a small mistake that shouldn't even dictate our qualifications is not okay.

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If you cannot be a dependent and mad an error then the remedy for that is to file a corrected return to correct the error.  You make the mistake and only you can correct it.   

To amend:

You should *wait* until your return has been processed and you receive your refund or conformation that any tax due has been paid. (If you file an amended return while you first return is being processed it can cause extended delays for both returns if two returns are in the system at the same time). In addition, if the IRS makes any change on your original return, you might end up having to amend the amendment – a sticky process that can take a year or more).

-- Then you can start the amend process.

-- Amended returns can only be mailed - allow 8-12 weeks - can take up to 16 weeks (4 months) for processing.

***************************************NOTE***********************************************
Amended returns can take up to 16 weeks (4 months) to process in normal times but due the the Corona virus shutdown the IRS is not even opening mailed returns at this time and just storing them so the 16 weeks will not even start until the IRS returns to normal - whenever that will be - and there will be a huge backup of mail.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue
********************************************************************************************

See this TurboTax FAQ for help with amending:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894381-how-to-amend-change-or-correct-a-return-you-already-filed

You can check the status of your amended return here but allow 3 weeks after filing for it to show up:
https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return

[iman42093]

Same here dude. I talked to one of the experts on here and she said as long as you amend you’ll get the money eventually, but who knows when basically...

[iman42093]

Agreed. It’s absolutely bs. Because of a dumb technicality on TurboTax’s website. I’m sure all of us did it for the same reason. I know I’m an independent personally,  but I thought I had to check the box because there were no other options. Now because of that we might not even get our funding when we need it most. Infuriating 

[iman42093]

Everyone who sees this btw, for what it’s worth I spoke to my tax lady and she told me to amend immediately. I wouldn’t wait if I were you. Better to get it later than never...

[amaxwell2191]

@TommyC Didn’t most of the direct deposits go out already, I’d assume if we haven’t gotten a payment yet, unlikely we will. I also wouldn’t count on the irs putting in extra effort to give out money. 

[billiejo1982]

I accidentally mark as someone claimed me on their taxes but know on claimed me  do i still get the stimulus check?

[TommyC]

@amaxwell2191 , I read that they still will be sending out deposits till the end of the month, another source said till April 24th. As soon as I get more info from this irs guy about whether I should amend or not, I'll post here again. 

I doubt we will see the money, but there's a small chance that enough people have made the same small mistake that they will start cross-checking before the month is over. Even though we made the mistake, if they just looked slightly deeper into our socials, they would see we are all independents supporting ourselves. 

I've got my amendment saved and ready to go, but I say hope for the best and prepare for the worst. 

[iman42093]

@TommyC Yep, it’s a shame because that’s what has happened to the majority of us. A misclick should not dictate whether or not we get the money. If we amend we’ll get it but not until far later. Hopefully they do what you say and look into it but I doubt it...I’m taking the same approach as you

[amaxwell2191]

Would be great if we could get a turbo tax rep on here telling us why as tax experts they let us all claim ourselves as dependents when we don’t qualify. 

[iman42093]

@amaxwell2191 Exactly. Most of us knew we were independent. We just got confused by the checkbox. I only selected it because there weren’t other options and I didn’t think I could leave it blank...

[macuser_22]

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@amaxwell2191 wrote:

Would be great if we could get a turbo tax rep on here telling us why as tax experts they let us all claim ourselves as dependents when we don’t qualify. 

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TurboTax simply asks the question - you provide the answer. 

[sc921a]

I understand that if you can be claimed as dependent by your parents then you're ineligible for the stimulus check. Her situation is like mine. I am usually claimed but for the year of 2019 I also accidentally put I could be claimed, no one claimed me, and I was told by my parents that they no longer are doing so. I then filed an amended return and mailed it in. Since this was updated on my info as not being able to be claimed, does this still mark me out as receiving the stimulus check? I'm aware that the process takes a while. I just don't like how if I cant be claimed why isn't there a way to fix this. 

[macuser_22]

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@sc921a wrote:

 I just don't like how if I cant be claimed why isn't there a way to fix this. 

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There is and you did it. Errors on a tax return are "fixed" with an amended tax return.   The IRS has not issued any guidelines for taxpayers that were denied the stimulus because of incorrect original tax returns in a timely manner other then amending which in normal times can take 4 months, but presently are not being processed at all due to the virus shutdown at the IRS.