topic Re: Dependent vs non dependent in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Dependent vs non dependent

Trbloom3 — Mon, 17 May 2021 19:18:08 GMT

Helping my son with his taxes 21 year old in college full time. I decided not to claim him as a dependent and he said no one claims me on his taxes to benefit from stimulus. I then did my taxes through Turbo and did not claim him, but when I submit, it forces me to claim him. Why?

Re: Dependent vs non dependent

SweetieJean — Mon, 17 May 2021 19:24:17 GMT

The law doesn't work that way, so he does not get to choose. If he can be claimed as your dependent, he is not eligible for stimulus. But some parents are doing what you propose anyway, which is one of the reasons the IRS is so backlogged.

So, even if you choose not to claim him, he cannot file as Independent.

Re: Dependent vs non dependent

Trbloom3 — Mon, 17 May 2021 19:26:00 GMT

So I/He has already submitted. When I go to submit it makes me claim him. Is there a way for him to change his

Re: Dependent vs non dependent

R WELLS — Mon, 17 May 2021 19:38:01 GMT

Under Federal income tax rules, you are required to claim your dependent children, when they meet all the requirements for claiming them as a dependent. You don’t get to pick and choose.

Re: Dependent vs non dependent

macuser_22 — Mon, 17 May 2021 19:41:57 GMT

@R WELLS wrote:

Under Federal income tax rules, you are required to claim your dependent children, when they meet all the requirements for claiming them as a dependent. You don’t get to pick and choose.

That is not correct. Nobody is ever required to claim a dependent.

Nothing requires a parent to claim a dependent, but if they CAN claim the dependent then the person cannot claim them-self - tax law does not allow that. That is why there are two questions "CAN you be claimed by another tax payer?, and WERE you claimed?

Yes to the first means you cannot claim yourself, no to the second might allow you to claim certain educational credits that usually only the person claiming you could claim.

Also see:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/dependents/help/when-do-i-have-to-answer-yes-to-being-claimed-as-a-dependent/01/1994319

Re: Dependent vs non dependent

Trbloom3 — Mon, 17 May 2021 19:53:45 GMT

So I went to delete that and amend the return to someone can claim me and it doesn't change the refund which it should

Re: Dependent vs non dependent

macuser_22 — Mon, 17 May 2021 20:12:44 GMT

@Trbloom3 wrote:

So I went to delete that and amend the return to someone can claim me and it doesn't change the refund which it should

In most cases the refund will be the same.