Mistakenly Reported State Refund After Divorce – Can My Ex-Husband Claim It Instead?

[diana-ternovaja2015]

We filed a joint tax return for 2023 with my husband. We received an $800 federal refund, and the $500 state refund was carried over to the following year. In 2024, we got divorced and are filing our tax returns separately for 2024. When I filed my 2024 return, I forgot about this and mistakenly reported that I received the $500 state refund (which I actually didn’t). If my ex-husband files his return now and states that he didn’t receive anything and requests the $500 refund, would that be correct? I would prefer not to amend my 2024 return, and if it’s possible for him to claim it, I would like him to do so.

[LindaS5247]

Since you filed a joint tax return for the year that the refund was for, it should be fine for him to claim it.

[diana-ternovaja2015]

But the problem is that I marked it as if I received that refund, even though I actually never did. Do I need to file an amendment for the 2024 tax year, or should I just leave it as it is? Because they might also be able to check and see that I truly never received that refund.

[LindaS5247]

In general. you would only need to file an amendment if you would owe additional taxes. However, different states have different rules.

Did you actually receive the refund when you marked your return that you received it or has no one actually received it?  Was it applied to your state tax return? If it was then no your husband can not.

You could try calling your state Department of Revenue and asking them. You can contact your state's Department of Revenue website for more details.

[diana2201]

I can't find where to enter that $500 credit I carried over from the previous year.

please tell me where and how to properly report this amount on my 2024 tax return?