How do I fix? My child accidently selected "Not a Dependent" on her tax return before I did my return. She is my dependent and this caused my return to be rejected.

[xmasbaby0]

MY DEPENDENT CLAIMED HIS OWN EXEMPTION

Your dependent filed a return without saying he could be claimed on your return and your return was rejected?  AFTER his return has been fully processed and he has received his refund, he has to file an amended return that says he can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.  Amended returns (form 1040X) have to be printed and mailed.  They cannot be e-filed; it takes the IRS a couple of months to process them.  Meanwhile, since your e-filed return has been rejected, you now have to print and mail it in to the IRS.  You will not be able to e-file. You do not have to wait for your dependent’s amended return to be processed.  Remember that when you mail a return, you need to include copies of your W-2, etc. with your return.

[n787at]

Do I have to remove her from my list of dependents when I refile?

[xmasbaby0]

No, keep her on your tax return as a dependent.   Kids do this all the time and mess their parents' tax returns up.  File your own return by mail.  When your child's return has been fully processed she has to amend.
Amend 2017
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[destinyglaubitz]

During this COVID thing and stimulus checks, will my son who filed as non-dependent accidentally for stimulus check have to return stimulus check? If so, I would rather have him keep the $1200 which would benefit him more than I have the $500 on my return. But, would I still be able to put his medical deductions on our return since I paid them out of pocket?

[xmasbaby0]

No.  You cannot have it both ways.   You can claim his medical expenses IF he is a dependent on your tax return.  A dependent does not get to "choose" whether they are claimed.  If your son can be claimed, then his return is supposed to say that he can be claimed, even if no one actually claimed him.

[redwhiteandrose]

I have the same situation with my son. He filed to get a taxpayer refund from Colorado. He didn't earmark himself as my dependent. Now my return rejects. 

I have to do an amendment for him, PAPER. Looking at the 1040x I don't see where I earmark him as a dependent on my return. I need help. I looked at every line on the 1040x. Nothing is obvious. 

The only place that looks like an option is the box for an explanation. I just don't want to take a chance because it will cause me to have a big tax debt if this is not done correctly. 

How do I fill out the 1040x correctly?

[xmasbaby0]

Click his name in My Info.  Go through the screens to the question that asks if he can be claimed as someone else's dependent.  The answer needs to be YES, and YES to the next one that asks if someone will claim him.

Your own return that claims your son will have to be filed by mail.  When he said he could not be claimed, he put his SSN into the system for the rest of the year.  You are blocked from e-filing with his SSN on your own return, so you will have to file your own Form 1040 by mail to claim him.  Print, sign and date your own return in ink, and send it by mail.   You do not have to wait for his amended return to be processed--waiting will not help.

[redwhiteandrose]

Thank you for your response. I know I have to mail my return paper. But does my son have to mail his amendment paper too? I thought all amendments go paper. You only gave me part of the solution. 

[xmasbaby0]

@redwhiteandrose Your son can try to e-file his amended return.  If his original return was e-filed then he should be able to e-file the amended return.   If he encounters a problem with e-filing the amended return then he can file it by mail.