Qualifying Dependent

[tluroc76]

Our 21 year old son filed his own returns but didn't check off the box "Can be claimed as dependent".

Because of this, our e-file submissions for Federal and State were both rejected.

Our son submitted the amendments last week and has already received the confirmation letter from the State (IN) that the request has been processed.

The Federal amendment on the other hand may take longer than 6 weeks  - past the filing deadline.

Since the error was only correct on the State, how should we resubmit taxes?

Remove him from "dependent" then e-file the Federal again?

For State, can we still claim him as dependent then file via paper forms?

Thank  you in advance!

[xmasbaby0]

The only way you can file this year and claim your son on federal or state is to file by mail.  Waiting for his amended return to be processed will not help you at all.   This is a very common mistake made by young income tax filers who have no idea what a problem they are creating when they do not say they can be claimed as dependents.

Print, sign and date your returns in ink, and mail them to the IRS and state.

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 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.

[AnnetteB6]

In addition to the option provided by xmasbaby0, you could remove him from your return completely and electronically file both your Federal and state returns.  Then later, after both of your returns have fully processed, file an amended return to reclaim him as a dependent.  

Because you would be amending to add a dependent, even if it is done after the filing deadline there would be no penalty or interest incurred because you should be filing to receive a refund amount instead of owing additional taxes due to the change.

On a side note, even though you have confirmation that the state change has been made, you cannot electronically file your state return with your son as a dependent because the Federal return would need to be the same.  You can always attempt to electronically file both returns closer to the deadline to see if the Federal amended return has been processed yet for your son.  There is no harm in trying.

@tluroc76 

[tluroc76]

Thank you Annette,

Would the rejected e-filing be counted as one "submissions"?

If it did count as a submission, when we make amend (remove him as dependent) to submit before the deadline, we would have to make another amend to add him as dependent again.

That would be 3 submissions.

Thank you!

[CatinaT1]

Resubmitting a return is not a separate submission.