I need to change my status from dependent to independent. I filed back in January and everything has already been processed. How exactly do I do it?

[Texas Roger · Accepted solution]

If you do not meet the requirements to be claimed by someone else and checked the box to indicate you can be claimed by someone else, you will have to prepare, print and mail an amended return form 1040X to uncheck the box. Do not uncheck it until you start the amended return. Here is a link to help you: https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894381-how-to-amend-change-or-correct-a-return-you-already-filed

An amended return must be printed and mailed. It can't be efiled. You must print and mail it yourself because TurboTax doesn't mail it for you.  In normal times, the IRS takes about 16 weeks to process an amended return. You can track the status using this link: https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return

[matiaj]

Hi! Thank you so much for your help. I do have another question. You stated that i could not  e-file to amend, but the link you attached says that I can. Are you able to clear that up for me?

[Texas Roger]

You may have misread the instructions. See this link which is what you get when you click on the question "Can I efile my amended return form 1040X?"

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/amending/help/can-i-e-file-my-1040x-to-amend-my-return/00/26008

The answer is No. 

[matiaj]

I see! thank you for clarifying. I appreciate the help.

[lutay]

Could this be a reason for my 19 yo daughter not getting a COVID-19 stimulus check? She selected she could be claimed as a dependent, but we ended up not being able to claim her as she did not qualify as a dependent. Should she amend her return to correct this issue and received a stimulus check?

[Texas Roger]

If she checked the box that she could be claimed by someone else as a dependent, she will not get the stimulus check unless she prepares, prints and mails an amended return to uncheck the box so that she files as independent. See the top answer for details for amending a return. 

[lutay]

When trying to complete the 1040X I do not see where you can uncheck the option on someone claiming you as a dependent. Do I just notate in the Explanation of Changes area that the box to be claimed on someone else's tax returns was checked originally and needs to be corrected to not being claimed on someone else's tax returns?

[DaraLO]

You can change your answer to the "Can someone claim you as a dependent?" question by taking the following steps:

1.  While in your amended return, revisit the Personal Info section.  You can do this by selecting Amend in the left menu.  This will take you to the "Here's the info for your amended federal return" page.  
2. From here, select Revisit (located to the right of Personal Info).
3. On the "Personal info summary" page, select Edit (located to the left of your name).
4. Scroll down to section 3 - "A few other things we need to know."
5. Here you can change your response to "Someone else can claim me as a dependent on their tax return."

[lutay]

Yes, I did that, but it doesn't seem to reflect this information anywhere on the printed 1040X. I wrote in the Explanation of Changes box that is what was being amended, but again, I don't see that particular box unchecked or checked on the 1040X form. Just want to make sure i'm not doing anything incorrectly.

[Texas Roger]

I don't see a place to change it on the form either. I don't see anything in the instructions. Here they are if you want to look through them: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040x.pdf

If you enter the explanation for why the 1040X is being filed and include a copy of the revised 1040 with the box unchecked, that may take care of it. It has no affect on the refund or taxes owed since there is no longer a personal exemption for the filer. Sorry I can't give you a definite answer. 

[lilyhawkins19]

When amending my tax return to reflect the change from dependent to independent, do I need to amend my state tax return as well, or just the federal return? 

[Critter-3]

You should do both and if there is no change in the state you don't have to file the amended return. 

[lmrk]

Where on the 1040x do i change the status from independent to dependent? There isn't any section marked personal information and I do not see any box to check to change that status. What line is the change supposed to be made. Please help.

[fanfare]

The only way to change your status is to write a statement to that effect in 1040-X Part III Explanation.

Describe your new status.

If any amounts changed you have to attach new or changed forms or schedules.

Do not include your old 1040 nor your revised 1040 because the Form 1040-X reflects any changes there and becomes your new tax return.

If no dollar amounts are changing, you can leave 1040-X lines 1-23 EMPTY.

@lmrk