To my understanding, a dependent is one who is under the age of 24 and whose parents pay for more than half of one's financial support. I am not yet 24, but I have provided for myself financially for over 5 years. Am I still considered a dependent if I stated I 'can' be claimed on my tax return but I was never actually claimed as such on my parents taxes?
Do I need to file an amendment so that in the eyes of the IRS I can be an independent?
And if my parents did not claim me on their taxes but on my return I stated that I can be claimed, will that effect me getting my stimulus check?
Yes, you need to amend your return. My second oldest, who is now in his second year of the US Army, marked his as being a dependent, without double checking things with me. He was rushing to get his return done. So we have had to file an Amendment for him. Currently, until his Amendment gets approved, he will not get the stimulus check.
So, yes, you, need to amend your return. You may also get back additional on your original refund. My son got back an additional 159 for his.
The answer is yes as well to your second question. You will not get the stimulus check until you fix your return.
If you qualify to be a dependent, you can't claim the stimulus, even if nobody claims you. If you are not, you can amend. You will have to mail your return. Qualifying child
Taxpayers likely won't qualify for an Economic Impact Payment if any of the following apply:
If a child can be claimed, even if they are not actually claimed, they don't qualify. However, if in 2020 they do qualify as an independent, then they should get a credit in 2021 (for the full $1200).