I did not receive my full stimulus package for the first stimulus check and I need to add a dependent for 2019

[Stumpy081107]

My daughter has lived with me for 6 years but her mother has claimed her, but she did not get the $500 stimulus payment for her and neither did I. I want to claim her for 2020 and apply for the depend

[xmasbaby0]

The stimulus check is an advance on a credit you can receive on your 2020 tax return.  If something went wrong or you did not get the stimulus check this year, you can get it when you file your 2020 return in early 2021—if you are eligible.It will end up on line 30 of your 2020 Form 1040.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payment-information-center-topic-j-reconciling-on-your-...

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments-for-individuals-...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/how-will-the-stimulus-package-impact-me/00/1393859

At this point, we do not know yet what the new stimulus bill will mean in terms of changes to the 2020 Form 1040, software programming, software updates, etc., etc.  Do NOT be in a hurry to file your 2020 tax return until more is known. Give some extra time to the IRS and the software programmers so that the software can handle the new 2nd stimulus, so that you can get it all by filing ONE time.   It is never a good idea to file early, and it would be especially foolish to file an early 2020 return.

Are you the custodial parent?  Do you have an agreement with the other parent to allow the other parent to claim them--due to divorce or that you live apart and share custody?  Did one of you sign a Form 8332?

If there is a signed 8332 then the custodial parent retains the right to file as Head of Household, get earned income credit and the childcare credit.  The non-custodial parent gets the child tax credit for children under the age of 17.

As far as the IRS is concerned, the custodial parent is the one with whom the child spent the most nights during the tax year--at least 183 nights.

If your e-file is rejected because someone else filed first and claimed the dependent that you can claim, then print, sign and mail your return so that it will be hand-processed.  The IRS will sort out who was allowed to claim the dependent.

[masterredfox]

The advice mentioned in this response is also applicable to anyone who missed getting the second stimulus payment. Unfortunately IRS is so slow and they have to add this line to the form for filling your 2020 taxes this year 2021,  so they won't be ready to start processing until February 2021.