topic Recovery Rebate Credit for teenager in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Recovery Rebate Credit for teenager

chantax3596 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 16:15:56 GMT

Our son is 18 (full time student) who has a part time job and earned about $1200 in 2020.

If he file his own individual tax return and we don't claim him as dependent, TurboTax says he is eligible for $1800 relief, $1200 from CARES act and $600 at end of 2020.

Is this legal and lawful to file this way and claim the $1800 for him?

Re: Recovery Rebate Credit for teenager

Bsch4477 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 16:18:39 GMT

If you CAN claim him as a dependent when he files his own return he must check the box saying that someone else can claim him which makes him not eligible for the stimulus.

Re: Recovery Rebate Credit for teenager

xmasbaby0 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 16:20:02 GMT

No it would actually be a form of tax fraud. Your 18 year old CAN be claimed as a dependent. As such, he is required to say on his own return that he can be claimed as someone else's dependent. He cannot choose whether he is a dependent or not---he is supposed to follow the tax law---and that is probably what you as a parent really want to teach him.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/dependents/help/when-do-i-have-to-answer-yes-to-being-claimed-as-a-dependent/00/1994319

Re: Recovery Rebate Credit for teenager

chantax3596 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 16:24:23 GMT

thanks for answer. We are not sure that's why we ask if it is "legal and lawful".