I received the first stimulus check based on my 2018 return. My son was a dependent on that return. Beginning 2019 he was no longer a dependent. He is now filing his 2020 return (he did file a 2019 return) and Turbo tax is asking if he received the first stimulus payment, which he did not. If he answers no it increases his refund by $1200. Is he eligible for this refund since he was a dependent on my 2018 return in which my first stimulus payment was based? If he answers yes, then there is no increase in his refund, but there is a comment that states:
"Avoid IRS delays of up to 4 weeks by making sure you're reporting your exact stimulus payment amounts."
Please advise proper way to handle.
Thank you.
Your son did not receive a stimulus payment---YOU received it. If your son CANNOT be claimed as a dependent for 2020 then he is allowed to use the recovery rebate credit to get the 1st and 2nd stimulus payments. The credit is based on his 2020 return--not on what you received. The way Congress wrote the law allows a payment to the "kid" who is no longer a dependent for 2020 even if the parent received a payment for the dependent the year before. And lucky for you...you do not have to pay yours back.