My 22-year-old son claimed himself as a dependent on his income tax, but he is a full-time student. Can I claim him as a dependent

[xmasbaby0]

Your son made a mistake and will have to amend his tax return, because, yes, if he is a full-time student you can claim him as a dependent.

MY DEPENDENT SAID HE COULD NOT BE CLAIMED

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 must be prepared on a Form 1040X.  It takes the IRS at least four  to six months to process an amended return.

 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.  Use a mailing service like certified mail that will track it so you will know that the IRS received it.

For your dependent:

See this TurboTax support FAQ for amending a tax return - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-return/amend-change-correct-return-a...

When they amend —The dependent needs to go to MY INFO, click their name, and go to the question that asked if they can be claimed as someone else’s dependent.  The answer needs to be YES.

[Bsch4477]

Yes, but you will have to mail your return with the explanation that your son erroneously filed as not a dependent and that he will amend his return to reflect that. He has to amend his return after the first one has been processed and any refund or tax liability has been settled. 

[MarilynG1]

If you provided over half of his support, you can claim him as your dependent.

However, in your question you say your son  'claimed himself as a dependent'.  If he indicated he is a dependent on his tax return, then you can still claim him and Efile.

If he did not indicate that he is a dependent on his tax return, you will need to print and mail your tax return as your Efile will reject.

Here's more info on What does Financially Support Mean?

[BruceBG]

You can claim him as a dependent IF:   1. you paid over one half his living expenses (not books and tuition), for the tax year, and 2. he did not claim himself as a dependent.

you two should have consulted on that before he filed, in order to choose wisely - the one to claim him as a dependent would be - logically - the greatest tax benefit to your family (you and him).  Since he already filed, and claimed himself to make a change would necessitate an amended return and might - (might) trigger an audit.  

     I'd recommend leave it alone.  and no you cannot claim him as a dependent if he claimed himself.  (unless he files amended to remove his claim of being a dependent -    you can NOT both claim him as a dependent.

regards

[xmasbaby0]

@BruceBG The user who posted about the college student who did not mark that he could be claimed as a dependent has a problem that is VERY common to parents who have teenagers and students who are filing their first tax returns.  We see it very frequently.     The solution to the problem is to have the student amend, and for the parent to file by mail.   Your suggestion to "leave it alone" suggests to a parent who has education credits at stake to just give up on getting an education credit that could be worth several thousand dollars to the parent.