My step son filed his taxes and unknowingly put that no one else could claim him however he lived in our house all year and made less than $4,000. IRS rejected mine. Fix?

[linamenj]

How can we fix this so my return will go through?

[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.

For your dependent:

How do I amend my 2019 TurboTax Online return?

[Texas Roger]

He must file an amended return form 1040X and check the box that someone else can claim him. Do not check the box until after the amended return is started. An amended return is form 1040X and it must be printed and mailed. It can't be efiled. In normal times it takes the IRS about 16 weeks to process an amended return. Here is a link for how to amend a return: https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894381-how-to-amend-change-or-correct-a-return-you-already-filed

He will have to print, sign and mail the return. TurboTax does not mail it for him.

You will have to print and mail your return to get it accepted. It takes way too long for the IRS to process his return and clear the fact that he originally claimed himself for your to wait and efile your return. 

[linamenj]

If I print and mail mine it wont be rejected even if they have not processed his amendment yet?

[xmasbaby0]

Mailed returns are not accepted or rejected in the way that e-filed returns are.  A mailed return will be processed.  Do be aware of this, though:

If you mail a tax return (or a payment) to the IRS, it is a good idea to use a mailing service that will track it like UPS or certified mail so you will know it was received.

Per the IRS website IRS Operations During COVID-19: Mission-critical functions continue: The IRS is not currently able to process individual paper tax returns. If you already have filed via paper but it has not yet been processed, do not file a second tax return or write to the IRS to inquire about the status of your return or your economic impact payment. Paper returns will be processed  once processing centers are able to reopen. 

TurboTax will not know anything about your mailed return, and will continue to show “Ready to Mail” on your account.  TurboTax will not know that you put your tax return in an envelope and took it to a mailbox.  TurboTax does not get updates on mailed  (or e-filed) returns.

When the IRS finally opens its mail and begins to process mailed returns you can check the status on the IRS site. https://www.irs.gov/refunds

State returns have to be mailed to the state.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

[linamenj]

Thank you both very much!  Very helpful!