If you were claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return, you will not receive a stimulus check. Stimulus checks are not sent to people who can be claimed as dependents. Does your brother pay for over half of your support? Does he have legal right to claim you as a dependent or did this take you by surprise when you tried to get a stimulus check? What is his explanation for claiming you?
Here are the rules for claiming a dependent---are you a qualifying relative for your brother?
WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?
You can claim a child, relative, friend, fiance (etc.) as a dependent on your 2019 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:
Qualifying child
• They are related to you.
• They cannot be claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They are not filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They are under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
- No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children
• They live with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
Qualifying relative
• They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
• They cannot be claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They are not filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They lived with you the entire year.
• They made less than $4200 (not counting Social Security)
• You provided more than half of their financial support. More info
When you add someone as a dependent, we'll ask a series of questions to make sure you can claim them.
Related Information:
• Does a dependent have to live with me?
• What does "financially support another person" mean?
• Can I claim a newborn baby?
If you are not a qualifying relative (or qualifying child) then your brother needs to amend his own tax return to remove you as a dependent. Unfortunately, that will not do you much good in the immediate future to get the stimulus money. It takes months for the IRS to process an amended return. Your solution to getting the stimulus money may take a long time--or even mean you file a return for 2020 and get it then. Sorry.
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
