For the past 5 years I have claimed my girlfriend's 2 sons (along with my son) as dependents and I mistakenly used them for EIC and the Advanced Child Tax Credit, etc. My girlfriend doesn't work and I support all of us. We have lived together every day for the past 5 years. I thought I was filing my taxes correctly because I asked my father about this from the very beginning, he's a retired IRS Agent. I thought everything was fine and done the way it was supposed to be done until I got a letter from the IRS this year asking for documentation for the kids to support me claiming them for EIC. I began researching this and quickly realized my huge mistake and that they're supposed to be Qualifying Relatives. So after talking to the IRS yesterday I know what's going to happen to this year's tax return...but what about the past 5 years of returns? What about the Advanced Child Tax Credits and stimulus payments I got for the kids because of this? My girlfriend could have gotten those things instead so it's not like we got money we shouldn't have...it just went to the wrong person. Also, I did taxes for my girlfriend the other day to check...she had no income, just had the 2 kids, and she ended up getting a $6,600 refund (if we file the return)...could this possibly be correct? Thanks!
