Would my dad or I have to pay money back?

[emartinez0013]

So I had a baby and my dad isn’t going to claim me anymore so I’m trying to get fafsa but they want 2015 tax records. My dad claimed me and i worked but didn’t file bc i thought I couldn’t file if I was being claimed. The school wants me to file but my dad thinks if I file he will owe money back. I’ve been working since 2015-feb 2017 and i let him claim me bc he was paying for my school even tho I was working.

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

If you were  full-time student in 2015 and under the age of 24, then your dad could claim you as a dependent even if you worked.  You could file your own tax return to get back taxes withheld, and just say on it that you could be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return.  It is not too late for you to file a 2015 tax return in order to get a refund.  You need the 2015 desktop software in order to do so, or you could just file on paper using the forms from the IRS.  The return has to be mailed.  It will not cause your dad to have to pay anything back.  If the same situation played out in 2016, you should have filed in 2016, too.  If you were a student under the age of 24 then the $4050 income limit does not keep your dad from claiming you as his dependent.

Who is supporting you and your child?  Is your dad supporting the two of you?  

Only a 2017 return can be prepared online and e-filed. 

 If you need to prepare a return for 2014, 2015, or 2016 you can purchase and download desktop software to do it, then print, sign,  and mail the return(s)

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products/

  (if you want to prepare on paper for free:  )

You can download the Forms and Instructions from the IRS web site:

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs

Remember to prepare your state return as well—if you live in a state that has a state income tax.

[emartinez0013]

Thank you! I need to show this to him bc he’s being iffy about me trying file on my own so I can qualify for FAFSA. The fathers child is supporting us which is why my dad isn’t going to be claiming me anymore. We had an agreement that if he was going to paying for my school he can continue to claim me which I was okay with. I just don’t understand why he wouldn’t like for me to file for those years.

[xmasbaby0]

Probably because taxes are confusing, people do not understand the rules,  and many people are afraid of making mistakes.  Have him use this:
IRS interview to help determine who can be claimed:
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Who-Can-I-Claim-as-a-Dependent%3F">http://www.irs.gov/uac/Who-Can-I-Claim-as-...>
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3113432-who-can-i-claim-as-my-dependent">https://ttlc.intuit.com/q...>

[xmasbaby0]

And for you:  <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/do-i-need-to-file-a-tax-return">https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/do-i-need-...>

[VolvoGirl]

He doesn't even need to know you filed a return.  It won't affect his return at all.  As long as you check the box on your return that says someone else can claim you.  He won't even find out unless you both claim yourself.  In fact if you have over $6,300 of W2 income you have to file a return.  And if you have any 1099Misc you have to file it no matter how small it is.