@Lab6661 So your former BF claimed you as a dependent incorrectly/fraudulently? Did he claim the children too? If you are the custodial parent---the parent the children spend the most nights with--then YOU are the one who can claim the children as your dependents and you are the one who should have received $500 stimulus for each child who has a Social Security number and is under the age of 17. Wish you would have asked sooner. We could have helped. It is now too late to fix this for a 2019 return.
But you can file a 2020 tax return and get the stimulus money that you should be eligible for. There will be a place to enter it on a 2020 tax form--it will go to line 30. Please seek help here in the forum right away if/when you encounter any problem with your 2020 return.
Meanwhile to report the tax fraud--if indeed your ex committed tax fraud--
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900655-what-to-do-if-you-suspect-tax-related-identity-theft
Most important) Follow the IRS procedures for reporting a fraudulent return, documented here: www.irs.gov/uac/Taxpayer-Guide-to-Identity-Theft
IRS INFORMATION REFERRAL TO REPORT VIOLATION OF TAX LAW
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f3949a.pdf
If your Social Security number is compromised and you know or suspect you are a victim of tax-related identity theft, take these additional steps:
- Respond immediately to any IRS notice; call the number provided.
- Complete IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit. Then print and mail or fax according to the instructions.
- Continue to pay your taxes and file your tax return, even if you must do so by paper.
If your ex tries this again for a 2020 return, you will need to print sign and mail your 2020 tax return instead of e-filing it. That way your return will be processed by a human and it will be looked at. If he has been claiming you or the children when he should not have claimed you or them, he will face penalties and repayment of any child-related credits he received. You might want to let him know so he can start amending his returns before he gets a nasty letter from the IRS.
**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.**
