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jackie445
New Member

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

I am trying to e-file my federal return and it's not going thru, their is a problem with one of my dependents and I believe that my daughter has been claimed on someone else's income taxes. How do I find out who is it, and how do I get them for fraudulently claiming someone who is not their dependent.
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1 Best answer

Accepted Solutions
Hal_Al
Level 15

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

You can't find out. But, here's what you do:

If someone else claimed your dependent child inappropriately, and if they file first, your return will be rejected if e-filed.You would then need to file a return on paper, claiming the child as  appropriate. The IRS will process your return and send you your refund, in the normal time. Shortly (up to a year) thereafter, you'll receive a letter from the IRS, stating that your child was claimed on another return. It will tell you that if you made a mistake to file an amended return and if you didn't make a mistake to do nothing. The other party will get the same letter you did. If one of you doesn't file an amended return, unclaiming the child, the next letter, from the IRS, will require you to provide proof. Be sure to reply in a timely manner.

Winner gets the tax benefits; loser gets to pay the IRS back with penalties and interest. The custodial parent almost always wins. The non-custodial parent can only claim the child as a dependent if the custodial parent gives permission (on form 8332) or if it's spelled out in a pre 2009 divorce decree. https://www.thebalance.com/claiming-same-dependent-audit-risk-3193030 
The usual suspects are:
1. The other parent
2. The child claimed his own exemption
3. Some other member of the household (e.g. grandparent)
4. Someone else the child lived with for part of the year

View solution in original post

102 Replies
Hal_Al
Level 15

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

You can't find out. But, here's what you do:

If someone else claimed your dependent child inappropriately, and if they file first, your return will be rejected if e-filed.You would then need to file a return on paper, claiming the child as  appropriate. The IRS will process your return and send you your refund, in the normal time. Shortly (up to a year) thereafter, you'll receive a letter from the IRS, stating that your child was claimed on another return. It will tell you that if you made a mistake to file an amended return and if you didn't make a mistake to do nothing. The other party will get the same letter you did. If one of you doesn't file an amended return, unclaiming the child, the next letter, from the IRS, will require you to provide proof. Be sure to reply in a timely manner.

Winner gets the tax benefits; loser gets to pay the IRS back with penalties and interest. The custodial parent almost always wins. The non-custodial parent can only claim the child as a dependent if the custodial parent gives permission (on form 8332) or if it's spelled out in a pre 2009 divorce decree. https://www.thebalance.com/claiming-same-dependent-audit-risk-3193030 
The usual suspects are:
1. The other parent
2. The child claimed his own exemption
3. Some other member of the household (e.g. grandparent)
4. Someone else the child lived with for part of the year

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

How do I find out if someone has used my dependence on their income tax

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

@Jconey1234 

You posted this question in a thread that has the answer to your question directly above your own post.  Scroll up and read the answer.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
dzmora
New Member

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

just wanted to see if someone has already claimed my daughter without my consent 

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,


@dzmora wrote:

just wanted to see if someone has already claimed my daughter without my consent 


You cannot and the IRS will not tell you.

Just e-file your tax return with the dependents entered.  If your tax return is rejected because someone else claimed the dependents on their return, the rejection code will indicate that.  Then you will have to print and mail the tax return with your dependents entered on the return.  If you have a tax refund the IRS will pay the refund.

Within a year the IRS will send letters to both parties to determine who was eligible to claim the dependents.  The loser of the investigation get to repay any tax refund based on the dependent plus penalties and interest.

lanjain
New Member

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

I have a question? When this happened the rejection, does it mean someone has claimed my dependent on the returns before me this year? Or is it from the year before2018? Or just from this year?

Hal_Al
Level 15

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

just this year

Satana91
New Member

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

I want to find out if someone file me on tax

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,


@Satana91 wrote:

I want to find out if someone file me on tax


You cannot and the IRS will not tell you.

Just e-file your tax return.  If your tax return is rejected because someone else claimed the you on their return, the rejection code will indicate that.  Then you will have to print and mail the tax return.  If you have a tax refund the IRS will pay the refund.

Within a year the IRS will send letters to both parties to determine who filed the tax return incorrectly.

Hal_Al
Level 15

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

The usual suspects are:

  1. The parent the child lives with.
  2. The other parent. 
  3. The child claimed his own exemption.
  4. Some other member of the household (e.g. grandparent)
  5. Someone else the child lived with for part of the year

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

How can I find out if someone claimed my kid without red flaming my kid

Hal_Al
Level 15

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

Answered above. You cannot find out

Apple2726
New Member

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

I can't file taxes but was told by a legal representation from it's cause my husband and I are separated and the children lived with me, he can't claim them on his taxes. How do I find out if he claimed them anyway.

Apple2726
New Member

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

I didn't sign the form and can't file taxes cause I was a stay at home mom until we separated.

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