If the father claims a child on his unemployment application, will that prevent the mother from claiming the child on her tax return?

[ekfoshay]

The state is Illinois, and the father hasn't filed his taxes yet. I'm trying to determine how to fix this problem - the tax return was rejected because the dependent was claimed on another tax return. If the unemployment claim wouldnt affect the tax return, then I will file form 14039.

[xmasbaby0]

Your post is confusing.   You say the tax return has not been filed yet and then you say it was rejected.  Which is it---it cannot be both.   Did the father file a tax return?   Are the parents married---or living as a family?   Why is there  confusion over who claimed the child?   Are you filing married filing separately?   Or do the parents live apart?  Who is the custodial parent?

[ekfoshay]

The mother and father live apart, are unmarried, and share the care of the child equally between them. When the father applied for unemployment benefits, he included the child as his dependent. He hasn't filed his tax return yet. By agreement, the mother claimed the child on her tax return. However, when the mother filed her tax return, it was rejected with code R0000 - the dependent was claimed by someone else. Was the rejection because of the father's claim for unemployment benefits? The state is Illinois, if that makes any difference.

[CatinaT1 · Accepted solution]

Applying for unemployment has no bearing on how you file your tax return, so that would not be the reason your return was rejected.  Someone has already claimed the child as a dependent on their return.  Is there someone else who would potentially claim the child?  If you are claiming the child the only way for you to file with the child it to paper file.  The IRS will then mail a letter to both people who claimed the child asking for proof that the child is their eligible dependent.  The person who is ineligible for the dependency of the child will receive no tax benefit.