Problem with dependents and now I need to amend my return

[PrivateIdaho]

Last night I accidentally submitted my 2024 return claiming my daughter as a dependent. The IRS accepted my return. This evening my daughter tried to submit her return asserting that nobody else could claim her as a dependent. The IRS rejected her submission, saying someone else had claimed her as a dependent. 

I found the mistake and corrected it.

How do I move forward? To I file an amended return? Right away? or do I need to wait for the federal and state governments to complete my tax refund before resubmitting? My refund will decrease, so I assume I will need to send a check for the difference.

thanks for your help.

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

Before you get too caught up in amending and all of that---determine if you can claim her as a dependent.   The rule is if she CAN be claimed she must say on her own return that someone else can claim her as a dependent.

Use this IRS tool:

IRS interview to help determine who can be claimed:

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent

And....see the criteria for claiming a qualifying child or qualifying relative.

WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?

You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2024 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:

Qualifying child

• They're related to you.
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
• No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
• They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
• They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.

Qualifying relative

• They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
• They made less than $5050 in 2024 (not counting Social Security)
• You provided more than half of their financial support

If it turns out that you CAN claim her, then she needs to change the way she answered the question in MY INFO that asked if she can be claimed.   Then she can re-file her tax return.

If, on the other hand, it turns out that you made a mistake and should not have claimed her, you have to wait until the IRS fully processes your return and then you can amend.  You cannot pull it back from processing.

Meanwhile, your daughter's SSN has been put into the system already, so she cannot e-file this year.  She will need to file her return by mail.  She can print, sign and date it in ink and mail it in.   Waiting for you to amend will not help her to e-file.

When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s.  Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.

Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses.  Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.