My mom put me on her tax return as a dependent so I’m unable to file, it says my ssn is already used. I don’t know what to do because I can’t talk to a live person with the IRS.

[xmasbaby0]

You mean your mother claimed you as a dependent on her tax return  (not her W-2).   But---do you fit the criteria to be her qualifying child or qualifying relative?   Maybe you do, and if you do, then she can claim you and you have to say on your own tax return that you can be claimed.

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 it turns out that in fact, Mom should not/could not claim you, then she needs to amend her own tax return, and you will have to mail in your own tax return that says no one can claim you.  You will not be able to e-file it this year.

[sarahv1990]

No I don’t qualify as her dependent.

[sarahv1990]

Also, thank you for the information!

[DanielV01 · Accepted solution]

@sarahv1990 Regardless of whether your mom amends her return or not, if you truly could not be claimed as a dependent, in harmony with what @xmasbaby0 comments above, your only option is to send your return in by mail.  If your mom chooses to amend, the return will process a little faster (but will still take a number of weeks because of the IRS' coronavirus shutdown).  If she doesn't amend, the IRS will send both you and her a letter to prove who has the correct claim, which will take longer.  At the very least this will likely delay you being able to receive a stimulus payment, at least right away.

You could also opt to file as a dependent, at least for now, even though you may not technically be a dependent.  If you check the box "Someone can or will claim me," you will still get the same amount of standard deduction (12,200 if your income is all earned income), and so your Federal refund is not really affected.  Plus, you should be able to e-file your return, which will allow you to get your refund now.  Then, you can either amend your return to claim "not a dependent", and hopefully get the stimulus that comes with that this year, or, in a worst-case scenario, if you claim properly that you are not a dependent on your 2020 return next year, the expectation is you will get your stimulus payment at that time.

[sarahv1990]

Great, thank you very much! 🙂