topic Illegally claiming my dependents in Deductions & credits

Illegally claiming my dependents

Beckyjoe1417 — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:11:36 GMT

Hello I'm not sure what my next step is supposed to be. I tried efiling my taxes and was denied. Someone claimed my dependents illegally. This is second year in a row that my aunt claimed my kids with no right to do so. My kids lived with her from Nov 4 2020 until Feb 13 2021. Yet she felt she had a right to claim my children when she never financially supported my kids. She got the child tax credit and the monthly payments for my children as well. What exactly do I need to send in with my taxes filing by paper?

Re: Illegally claiming my dependents

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 12:57:24 GMT

You do not send in anything extra about the children when you file by mail. The IRS will send you a letter at a later time when they want you to send in something to prove who the children lived with. For now, just claim your children on your own tax return, print, sign and date it in ink, and mail it in.

When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s. Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.

Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses. Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.

Re: Illegally claiming my dependents

Critter-3 — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 13:06:33 GMT

You can apply for an IP PIN for the kids to stop her from doing this in the future ... form 14039.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/when-to-file-a-form-14039-identity-theft-affidavit

Re: Illegally claiming my dependents

SweetieJean — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 13:12:39 GMT

You can also freeze the kids' SSN's. Since she knows these numbers, any chance they were used improperly for anything else?