Bad programming. I need help and can't find anyone to help with their own software bug.

[taxdummy2]

I spent $140 on the advantage home and business program. I filled everything out exactly as prompted. Then my return was rejected. When I clicked on the help me correct something button, I reviewed everything and it's correct. It says I cannot claim EIC, even though my dependant lives with me but the other parent claims and supports us and child in no way whatsoever. That was a court typo. Anyhow, I file the same way every year. He claims a dependant but I still receive some sort of credit. These questions are very clear in the software and I answered them. For some reason, the software keeps adding an EIC though and there is no way to remove it. I tried filing again but it will be rejected if that's why it previously was. I wasted a LOT of time and money on this. And I can't even talk to customer service. 

[xmasbaby0]

Not sure what you mean by a "court typo."    It is unclear what you entered or tried to enter about your dependent.  You do not mention who the child lived with.  The IRS cares about physical custody.

Are you the custodial parent?  Do you have an agreement with the other parent to allow the other parent to claim them--due to divorce or that you live apart and share custody?  Did one of you sign a Form 8332?

If there is a signed 8332 then the custodial parent retains the right to file as Head of Household, get earned income credit and the childcare credit.  The non-custodial parent gets the child tax credit for children under the age of 17.  If the child is 17 or older the non-custodial parent gets the $500 credit for other dependents.

If you and the other parent have a signed agreement, you need to indicate in MY INFO that you have such an agreement.

As far as the IRS is concerned, the custodial parent is the one with whom the child spent the most nights during the tax year--at least 183 nights.

If you are a non-married couple who live together with your child, then only one of you can claim the child(ren) and the one not claiming the child does not enter anything at all on their tax return about the child.   The “sharing” of child-related credits you may have heard about is only possible between divorced or never married parents who live apart and share custody and who have a written agreement to share the credits.    The child’s SSN can only be entered on one tax return.   Any other return with the child’s SSN on it will be rejected.   If you are a family, then work out how to share the refund between yourselves.

[taxdummy2]

Yes, you are exactly correct. Over 10 years ago, the other parent had slipped in he could claim the kids as dependants. However, they live with me 365 days a year and he does nothing to support any needs. Our youngest child who is still a minor living with me and is still applicable on parental taxes. Each year, he claims as dependant and gets the EIC. I still qualify for the other credits. The problem is that although the software recognizes this...it still keeps putting the EIC on my file. I can't find any way to remove it. 

[taxdummy2]

And yes, in the software under my Info, it is clarified that the other parent is claiming the child as the dependant and states the terms correctly that the other parent should get the EIC. This seems to be a bug in the software which I why I am trying to find some kind of customer service to help. I usually use other software and have never had this issue with them. 

[xmasbaby0]

If the other parent is claiming the child for EIC, and HOH filing status, are you trying to get the child tax credit?    If not, then the child should not even be listed on your tax return.

[gabsnftil24]

The child is already entered once in the system & it will reject if it is tried to be used again. Years ago, there have been glitches that would allow errors to go through, but not as smart technology has so much improved. You may have filed 1st before when you didn't have any issues. Read the info under the IRS interactive questions on-inline and it will give a correct answer. It's so close to getting cut off from filing electronically that some are jamming the system.  Hope this helps. If nothing else, file by paper. However, a word of caution, you may be subject to have the return examined.  And if there is a glitch, there's nothing that can fix it at this time (at least not this late in the season, yet you may be correct unless things have changed from one year to another. Good going.