Dependent vs non dependent

[Trbloom3]

Helping my son with his taxes  21 year old in college full time.  I decided not to claim him as a dependent and he said no one claims me on his taxes to benefit from stimulus.  I then did my taxes through Turbo and did not claim him, but when I submit, it forces me to claim him.  Why?

[SweetieJean]

The  law doesn't work that way, so he does not get to choose.  If he can be claimed as your dependent, he is not eligible for stimulus.  But some parents are doing what you propose anyway, which is one of the reasons the IRS is so backlogged.

So, even if you choose not to claim him, he cannot file as Independent.

[Trbloom3]

So I/He has already submitted.  When I go to submit it makes me claim him.  Is there a way for him to change his

[R WELLS]

Under Federal income tax rules, you are required to claim your dependent children, when they meet all the requirements for claiming them as a dependent.  You don’t get to pick and choose.

[macuser_22]

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@R WELLS wrote:

Under Federal income tax rules, you are required to claim your dependent children, when they meet all the requirements for claiming them as a dependent.  You don’t get to pick and choose.

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That is not correct.  Nobody is ever required to claim a dependent.

Nothing requires a parent to claim a dependent, but if they CAN claim the dependent then the person cannot claim them-self - tax law does not allow that. That is why there are two questions "CAN you be claimed by another tax payer?, and WERE you claimed?

Yes to the first means you cannot claim yourself, no to the second might allow you to claim certain educational credits that usually only the person claiming you could claim.

Also see:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/dependents/help/when-do-i-have-to-answer-yes-to-being-claimed-as-a...

[Trbloom3]

So I went to delete that and amend the return to someone can claim me and it doesn't change the refund which it should

[macuser_22]

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@Trbloom3 wrote:

So I went to delete that and amend the return to someone can claim me and it doesn't change the refund which it should

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In most cases the refund will be the same.