Adding Kids to my taxes for the stimulus

[DougDude]

I need to add my 3 kids to my taxes so that we will receive the money for them from this next round of stimulus. I filed last year. How can I add them to mine now.  

[xmasbaby0]

You claim the children as dependents on your 2020 tax return..

The stimulus check is an advance on a credit you can receive on your 2020 tax return.  If something went wrong or you did not get the stimulus check this year, you can get it when you file your 2020 return in early 2021—if you are eligible.It will end up on line 30 of your 2020 Form 1040.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payment-information-center-topic-j-reconciling-on-your-...

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments-for-individuals-...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/how-will-the-stimulus-package-impact-me/00/1393859

[DougDude]

Someone else claimed my 3 kids last years taxes and as well received the last round of stimulus for my kids. We never saw any of that. I'm wanting to add my kids now so that these people don't once again get the stimulus for my kids.

[NCperson]

@DougDude - if your children were on your 2019 tax return, there is really nothing to do but wait for the check. 

if they were NOT on your 2019 tax return, I would suggest STRONG patience waiting for the IRS to explain how they are going to roll this out.....there is no rush as taxes can't be filed until late January at the earliest. 

did you receive the first round of stimulus for these children?  

[Critter-3]

So not be in a rush to file ... wait for your second stimulus check  ...  this second stimulus check will also be based on the 2019 return you filed  so when the 2020 program is updated you are supposed to be able to get the missing money for the kids from the first and second stimulus checks on the 2020 return when you file it.   If you have any EIC or ACTC on the return they will not start processing it until mid February at the earliest so don't be in a rush to file. 

[VolvoGirl]

@DougDude   Was the other person supposed to claim the children?  Or you?  Why couldn't you claim them?  If they claimed them wrong, you could have still claimed them on your return.  Do you need to amend your return and claim them for 2019 or earlier?

[Hal_Al]

Don't count on that money anytime soon.  You may not get it until 2022.  Like the first round, the money will first be distributed by who claimed the kids on the 2019 tax return.

"In essence, the stimulus check acts as an advance of your 2020 income tax refund. This means when you prepare your 2020 income tax return, there will be a line to include the section 6428 credit (line 30 on the 2020 form 1040). You will get the first $500 per kid (under 17) then.  It's not clear, yet, how the next $600, per kid,  will work, but you may not get it until you file your 2021 return in 2022 (EDIT: see NCPerson's comment below about the reconcile being due on the 2020 return).

As others have suggested, you could file an amended 2019 return to add them.  But, it's not clear that that will accomplish anything but make trouble for the other person(s) who did claim them. 

[NCperson]

@Hal_Al - I suspect somehow this may get reconciled on this year's tax return - heaven knows how.....

from the new law: (page 1966)

SEC. 6428A. ADDITIONAL 2020 RECOVERY REBATES FOR INDIVIDUALS.
8 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the credit allowed
9 under section 6428, in the case of an eligible individual,
10 there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed
11 by subtitle A for the first taxable year beginning in 2020
12 an amount equal to the sum of—