topic Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes, in Business & farm

How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

jackie445 — Fri, 31 May 2019 23:43:42 GMT

I am trying to e-file my federal return and it's not going thru, their is a problem with one of my dependents and I believe that my daughter has been claimed on someone else's income taxes. How do I find out who is it, and how do I get them for fraudulently claiming someone who is not their dependent.

You can't find out. But, here's what you do: If someone...

Hal_Al — Fri, 31 May 2019 23:43:43 GMT

You can't find out. But, here's what you do:

If someone else claimed your dependent child inappropriately, and if they file first, your return will be rejected if e-filed.You would then need to file a return on paper, claiming the child as appropriate. The IRS will process your return and send you your refund, in the normal time. Shortly (up to a year) thereafter, you'll receive a letter from the IRS, stating that your child was claimed on another return. It will tell you that if you made a mistake to file an amended return and if you didn't make a mistake to do nothing. The other party will get the same letter you did. If one of you doesn't file an amended return, unclaiming the child, the next letter, from the IRS, will require you to provide proof. Be sure to reply in a timely manner.

Winner gets the tax benefits; loser gets to pay the IRS back with penalties and interest. The custodial parent almost always wins. The non-custodial parent can only claim the child as a dependent if the custodial parent gives permission (on form 8332) or if it's spelled out in a pre 2009 divorce decree. https://www.thebalance.com/claiming-same-dependent-audit-risk-3193030
The usual suspects are:
1. The other parent
2. The child claimed his own exemption
3. Some other member of the household (e.g. grandparent)
4. Someone else the child lived with for part of the year

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

Jconey1234 — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 23:16:19 GMT

How do I find out if someone has used my dependence on their income tax

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

xmasbaby0 — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 23:53:55 GMT

@Jconey1234

You posted this question in a thread that has the answer to your question directly above your own post. Scroll up and read the answer.

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

dzmora — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 17:00:11 GMT

just wanted to see if someone has already claimed my daughter without my consent

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

DoninGA — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 17:04:32 GMT

@dzmora wrote:

just wanted to see if someone has already claimed my daughter without my consent

You cannot and the IRS will not tell you.

Just e-file your tax return with the dependents entered. If your tax return is rejected because someone else claimed the dependents on their return, the rejection code will indicate that. Then you will have to print and mail the tax return with your dependents entered on the return. If you have a tax refund the IRS will pay the refund.

Within a year the IRS will send letters to both parties to determine who was eligible to claim the dependents. The loser of the investigation get to repay any tax refund based on the dependent plus penalties and interest.

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

lanjain — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 09:42:47 GMT

I have a question? When this happened the rejection, does it mean someone has claimed my dependent on the returns before me this year? Or is it from the year before2018? Or just from this year?

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

Hal_Al — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 11:52:24 GMT

just this year

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

Satana91 — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 21:48:51 GMT

I want to find out if someone file me on tax

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

DoninGA — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 22:08:37 GMT

@Satana91 wrote:

I want to find out if someone file me on tax

You cannot and the IRS will not tell you.

Just e-file your tax return. If your tax return is rejected because someone else claimed the you on their return, the rejection code will indicate that. Then you will have to print and mail the tax return. If you have a tax refund the IRS will pay the refund.

Within a year the IRS will send letters to both parties to determine who filed the tax return incorrectly.

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

Hal_Al — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 22:22:08 GMT

The usual suspects are:

The parent the child lives with.
The other parent.
The child claimed his own exemption.
Some other member of the household (e.g. grandparent)
Someone else the child lived with for part of the year

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

AlyssaAlazae123 — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 04:27:18 GMT

How can I find out if someone claimed my kid without red flaming my kid

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

Hal_Al — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 04:31:03 GMT

Answered above. You cannot find out

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

Apple2726 — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 19:46:53 GMT

I can't file taxes but was told by a legal representation from it's cause my husband and I are separated and the children lived with me, he can't claim them on his taxes. How do I find out if he claimed them anyway.

Re: You can't find out. But, here's what you do: If someone...

Apple2726 — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 19:48:57 GMT

I didn't sign the form and can't file taxes cause I was a stay at home mom until we separated.

Re: You can't find out. But, here's what you do: If someone...

CatinaT1 — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 19:52:06 GMT

When did you separate? Did the children spend any time with him during 2019?

Re: You can't find out. But, here's what you do: If someone...

Hal_Al — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 21:20:41 GMT

"I can't file taxes cause I was a stay at home mom until we separated."

When did you start working and how much money did you earn in 2019?

The money you hear about people getting for just filing a tax return claiming kids requires them to have some earned income (wages or self employment). Without earned income, they are not eligible for the "refundable" Earned Income Credit (EIC) or Additional Child Tax Credit. Both credits are calculated on the amount of earned income you have. No earned income means no "refund". A small amount of earned income means a small refund. The child tax credit does not "kick in" unless you have at least $2500 of earned income. People using Married Filing Separately (MFS) status can not get any EIC.

"I was told by a legal representation .... he can't claim them on his taxes". That depends on when you separated. Did the legal rep also tell you if you are still legally married, you can still file a joint return (MFJ) and that is the best way to file.

As stated in the answers above, there is NO WAY to finding out if he already filed the kids, other than asking him.

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

Kieromishijos420 — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 22:42:24 GMT

How do I find out if someone else claimed my dependent on their taxes

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

CatinaT1 — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 22:48:16 GMT

You usually don't find out until your return is rejected because the social security number has already been used.

Re: How do I find out if someone has used my dependent on their income taxes,

Hal_Al — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 22:57:39 GMT

@Kieromishijos420 - Read the full thread, particularly the first reply on page 1.