Are they my dependents? I have two children that are 20 and attending college. Their father moved to another state in 2017, and they have lived with me full time. Since fall 2019, their father has paid 2/3 of their college room & board and college tuition. I pay the other 1/3 of their college room & board and college tuition, their permanent address is with me, and they live with me on college breaks, summer, etc (their college is 45 minutes away). Their father doesn't think I can claim them, but I meet the IRS Qualifying Child Requirements (Relationship, Age, Support, Residency and Qualifying Child) and believe I have the right to claim them as my dependents. They do not provide more than half of their support and they have part time jobs in the summer only.
Can they file their own tax returns to get the Recovery Rebate Credit? It is my understanding that they do not qualify for the Recovery Rebate Credit since I CAN claim them as my dependents, even if I don't.
Can they file their own tax returns (stating that someone else CAN claim them but won't) to get the American Opportunity Credit? They both had minimal part time jobs in 2020, with little or no federal income taxes taken out.
