No stimulus check because I checked the "could be claimed as a dependant box" in 2018 reports

[diloneus]

Hi there,

I filed a  2019 and 2018 tax return. On the 2018 return I filed I could be filed as a dependant not knowing what I was doing, but was never claimed. A rookie mistake but I had only ever filed once before in 2017 when I could officially be claimed as a full time student

I have read that dependants are not eligible for stimulus checks. However I claimed independant on my 2019 return. I was able to contact the IRS through the payment relief line and confirm that I was not receiving a stimulus  check because of the 2018 check box saying I could be claimed, but was not. My 2019 return was filed in March before stimulus checks were even sent out. I'm confused about why my 2018 was taken over my 2019 forms.

Am I able to amend a 2018 report to refile as independant as I should have filed from the beginning? Or will I be able to claim the stimulus check on the 2020 tax forms next year? 

I have read other questions similar to this, but most pertain to 2019 statements and not 2018. 

[AmeliesUncle · Accepted solution]

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@diloneus wrote:

Or will I be able to claim the stimulus check on the 2020 tax forms next year? 

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Yes, it is a credit on your 2020 tax return.  So if you do not receive the stimulus check, it will be added to your 2020 tax return.

It is possible that the IRS had not fully processed your 2019 tax return when they got to you, so they looked at 2018 instead.  But if they don't send you one, you will eventually get the credit on your 2020 tax return.