Stimulus check - Accidentally checked the box "someone can claim me as a dependent" on taxes

You can amend to fix this, as long as you are sure you don't meet the criteria to be claimed as a dependent:

There are two types of dependents, each subject to different rules:

• A qualifying child
• A qualifying relative

For both types of dependents, you’ll need to answer the following questions to determine if you can claim them.

Dependent taxpayer test: The taxpayer, or spouse of the taxpayer if filing jointly, cannot be eligible to be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.

Married Filing Jointly test: If you file a joint return with your spouse, you cannot be treated as a dependent. (This rule does not apply if the joint return was filed only as a claim for refund and no tax liability would exist for either spouse if they had filed separate returns).

Citizen or resident test: The person claimed as a dependent must be either a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. resident alien, or a resident of Canada or Mexico. An adopted child that lived with the taxpayer all year passes this test if the taxpayer is a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.

Qualifying Child

In addition to the above, you must be able to answer "yes" to all of the following questions to claim an exemption for your child.

Relationship test: The child must be the taxpayer’s son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, or a descendant of any of these, such as the taxpayer’s grandchild, niece, or nephew.

Residency test: The child must have lived with the taxpayer for more than half of 2019.

• Temporary absences (e.g., school, vacation, business, medical care, military services, or detention in a juvenile facility) are considered as time living with the taxpayer.
• Exceptions apply under the rules for children of divorced or separated parents. See IRS Publication 501 for details.

 Age test: The child must be

• Under age 19 at the end of the tax year and younger than the taxpayer (or spouse), or

• Under age 24 at the end of 2019, a full-time student for any part of five calendar months during the tax year, and younger than the taxpayer (or spouse), or

• Permanently and totally disabled at any age

Support Test: The child cannot have provided more than 1/2 of his/her own support during the tax year. Welfare, TANF, and scholarships received by the child are not considered support.

Qualifying Relative

Relationship or Member of Household Test: To be considered a qualifying relative, a person must be:

• A son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, or a descendant of any of these
• A brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, or a descendant of any of these
• A father, mother, or an ancestor or sibling of them (does not include foster parents)
• A stepbrother, stepsister, stepfather, stepmother, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, or
• Any other person (other than the spouse) who lived with the taxpayer all year as a member of the taxpayer's household as long at the relationship did not violate local law. Exceptions: Temporary absences for special circumstances such as school, vacation, business, medical care, military service, or incarceration count as time lived in the home. Also, the taxpayer's mother or father does not have to live with the taxpayer as long as the taxpayer is able to claim the parent as a dependent and paid more than half the cost of keeping up the parent's main home (including nursing homes) for the entire year. 

Not a Qualifying Child Test: The relative cannot be a qualifying child of any other taxpayer for the year.

Gross Income Test: The relative's gross income must be less than $4200 for the year. Gross income is all income that is not tax-exempt. Examples of gross income include taxable Social Security benefits, taxable unemployment compensation, and certain scholarships and fellowships (i.e., monies used to pay higher education expenses other than tuition, fees, supplies, books, and course-required equipment).

Support Test: The taxpayer must have provided over 1/2 of the relative's support during the year. This test does not apply to persons who qualify as dependents under the children of divorced or separated parents rule and multiple support agreements.

After reviewing this information, if you find that you did not qualify to be claimed as a dependent, you can amend your return to correct this. Here's how to amend:

1. Sign in to TurboTax.
2. Scroll down to Your tax return & documents (you may need to select Show), select 2019 and then Amend (change) return.
   • If you only see the option to amend 2018 or earlier, it's because you can't amend an unfiled 2019 return. Instead, just select Pick up where you left off, make your changes, and disregard the rest of these instructions.
3. Select Amend using TurboTax Online.
4. Carefully follow the instructions. Don't worry if your refund changes to $0. This is normal on amended returns.
5. When finished, we'll give you instructions for printing and mailing your amended return, as amendments can't be e-filed.

The IRS will start processing your amended return when they reopen. It will be a while before you get the stimulus (if you qualify).

Thank you for the response. I know for certain I'm not a dependent, it was a misclick on my end. So if I go ahead and send an amendment, I would still receive the stimulus, just not until later this year?

If you otherwise qualify for the stimulus and the IRS approves your amended return, you will receive it. It will be a while, though. The IRS NORMALLY takes 16 weeks to process an amended return, but COVID-19 will definitely slow things down a lot more. 

If you don't receive the stimulus payment in 2020, you can always receive it as a credit on your 2020 return in 2021. The stimulus is actually an ADVANCE on a credit on your 2020 return. 

I made the same exact mistake so I will be amending. However, when I printed my Amend Return papers from turbo tax, my signature is on there with the date of my original tax return. Do I need to change this with the date of the Amended papers before I mail them? Part of the Amend instructions say to sign and date but Turbo tax did not give me the option before I printed the papers off so I’m not sure what to do about that. 

Yes, sign and date the amendment.

I tried claiming my boyfriend on my taxes and because he was on SSI I wasn't allowed to claim him. However they left him listed as a dependent and I didn't realize it until he didn't get his stimulus. This is so unfair to him and I feel horrible. I amended my taxes and took him off. I now have to mail the documents. Is there something he should do? When I mail the documents I will explain what happened. If the IRS doesn't allow you to claim people they should not keep them listed as dependents. Hopefully I can get it fixed and he can get what is due to him. If you have any suggestions I'll be happy to hear them.

Hi,

I accidentally checked "can be claimed as dependent" on my 2018 tax return even though no body claimed me as dependent. I haven't filed my 2019 tax return yet, So I was just wondering if I should amend that tax return from 2018 or should I just file my 2019 tax return the correct way?

Thank you.

This happened to me too. By submitting an ammeded return will it delay your next stimulus payment?

@onlineprincess 

The BF must mail in a 2019 return to get the stimulus check if you will amend your 2019 return.

OR ... you can leave things be for now (you keep the $500 credit you already got)   and not claim him on the 2020 return next year and then he will file a 2020 return to get the $1200.   This is a legal win win scenario. 

@genbratz @hello222 

File the 2019 return ... do not amend the 2018.

When amending the box I clicked for allowing myself to be claimed as a dependent, where can that section be found? I keep going in circles through all of the different screens and options and not finding that box to change. 

In the MY INFO tab edit yourself ... look for this question : 

Thank you!

The same thing happened to me. I checked the “someone can claim me as a dependent” by accident but no one did. And so, I didn’t receive the first round of the stimulus checks. I sent an amended return over 2 months ago but it hasn’t been processed nor received yet. I’m concerned that since there is a second round of the stimulus check almost getting approved, I will also miss that. I really need the money. What should I do? Will I eventually still get both checks?

There is nothing you can do but wait ... until the IRS processes the amended return (which can take 4 to 6 months) the stimulus will not be released.  

I am not required to file taxes as I receive SSI survivor benefits. How do we amend the dependent status in this situation? Thank you. 

If you are not required to file a return and you indicated that you were a dependent when you filed the non-filer report, there isn't anyway to correct this. 

You will need to file a 2020 tax return in 2021 to claim your economic impact payment.  

@MaryS178

If another round of stimulus money is issued will I have the same problem?

thank you I did the samething  findley back in may27th got a hold of someone that works for irs she said to send in 1040x and explain that no one can claim me that I accedley check the box and that I claim my self she that ill get the stimlulus check after 16weeks to 18weeks I was looking forward to that back in may I have cancer in the brain that wold of helped me I get age blind disabled but it only 182month and I put some wight on had to get some new pants and thangs that I need.

Well ... sad to say but the stimulus will not be released until the 1040X is processed and since the IRS didn't open any mail for more than 10 weeks and have just now stated opening the Millions of envelopes so it will take some time to o catch up.  Normally amended returns take up to 4 months to process however this year add another 2 month due to the virus shut down ... meaning don't expect anything until Thanksgiving and if the money shows up earlier be happy. 

Check the progress of the amended return once a week here :  https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return

And for the future, no matter which DIY tax program you use,  READ the screens carefully and if you are not 100% sure of  something either click on the MORE INFO links or ask a question in the forum before you file the return so mistakes like this don't happen again. 

Hi there,

Unfortunately, I made the same mistake and claimed my wife as a dependent. 
I made this mistake in my 2018 taxes. In my 2019 taxes, I didn't do the same mistake, so 2019 is okay.
We still didn't get our checks.  

What should I do?
Should I amend my 2018 taxes to get our stimulus checks?

@SusanY1 

Thanks

Yes, you need to amend 2018.  A spouse can never be a dependent.

See this TurboTax FAQ for help with amending.

Sad ... so few words on the screen yet users fail to read them ...  not sure how you can even get thru the dependent interview screens without entering incorrect answers ... the program works hard to keep you from making this mistake ...

Hi @Critter 

Thanks for your thoughts.
I usually do my taxes without reading them. I just hit random buttons.