Changing dependency status..

[litzyrios13]

Hi y’all I’m in a rut. So in 2022 I went to my then tax preparer to have her amend my 2021 taxes because i needed to change my dependency status (from Independent to “can be claimed as dependent”). When I went to her in 2022 she said she couldn’t amend it and that I was fine filing independent for 2022 … later discovered that it could be amended and that that I definitely could still be claimed as dependent in 2021/2022 (I was a full time student 20-21 years old at the time, definitely not paying over half of my expenses). Since I filed independent then I also took the credit for my 1098-t .. now I want to amend my 2021/2022 taxes to change my dependency status to “can be claimed” even though my parents WILL NOT be claiming me (my dad specifically would not want to amend). Can I do this even though it’s been 4 years? I know I’ll be loosing money but I just want to see if I can fix this to not get in trouble. Also, can I amend even if my dad wouldn’t want to amend his?  Thanks! 

[Bsch4477]

You can do it. There’s no obligation for your parent to claim you if he doesn’t want to. 

[fanfare]

Your father will not claim you because any benefit he might have had is forfeited after such a long time.

If you want him to have the benefit, give him a gift of the benefit you received, or return it to the US Treasury.

Your choice.

@litzyrios13 

[xmasbaby0]

CAN I USE TURBOTAX TO AMEND IF THE RETURN WAS PREPARED SOMEWHERE ELSE?

If you did not use TurboTax to prepare your tax return, it is possible to amend the return using TurboTax but it will really be a pain.  It would be better to use the software or service used to file originally.  If a paid preparer made a mistake on your tax return, that tax preparer should do the amended return for you at no charge.

In order to use TurboTax to amend your return, you need to purchase the desktop software for the tax year and re-create the return EXACTLY as it appeared when it was filed with the IRS/states.  Every line has to be the same.  Then you have to "trick" the software into thinking you filed by saying you will mail the return. (but do not mail it)   AFTER that, you use the software to prepare a Form 1040X, which has to be printed, signed and mailed to the IRS.  It takes the IRS about 4-6  months to process an amended return

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products/

You may also want to explore purchasing the software from various retailers such as Amazon, Costco, Best Buy, Walmart, Sam’s, etc.