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[ligiaa15]

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[xmasbaby0]

Your post was cut off mid-sentence.  What is your question?

[ligiaa15]

Sorry the app didn’t finish my question but basically I qualify as an independent I make my own money, pay rent and my parents haven’t marked me as a dependent in the last 3 years. But for some reason the box has been checked all three years. I don’t remember checking it, but I am trying to figure out if I should amend my tax return to show I’m an independent or if there is anything I can do to receive the stimulus check. Like I qualify all the other ways and I’m not a dependent it’s literally just an incorrect check off on a tax return :(

[ligiaa15]

The box Im talking about is “ someone can claim me as dependent”*

[xmasbaby0]

That box should NOT be checked.  It will keep your from getting a stimulus check. ( If it was checked for any of the other years when you should not have been claimed, you should amend those returns. )   Unfortunately, you will have to amend  your 2019 return in order to fix it for the stimulus check.    Amended returns take quite awhile to be processed, and right now they can be expected to take even longer than normal.

How do I amend my 2019 TurboTax Online return?

A 1040X cannot be e-filed.  It must be printed and mailed.  It will take about 4 months for the IRS to process an amended return.  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.

Wait about 3 weeks from mailing and you can check the status of your amended return:

https://www.irs.gov/Filing/Individuals/Amended-Returns-(Form-1040-X)/Wheres-My-Amended-Return-1

https://www.irs.gov/filing/individuals/amended-returns-form-1040-x/amended-return-frequently-asked-q...

[ligiaa15]

Even if it is awhile from now could I still get the stimulus if I mail my amend paper work? I really don’t know why the box was checked it could’ve just been an error on my part but I’ve considered myself an independent for awhile now. 

[fanfare]

That's a serious oversight but now you have to file an amended return for 2019 so you can file correctly for 2020 and get the stimulus at that time.

[fanfare]

file an amended return for 2017,

you're missing out on the deduction of $4,000 for yourself.

If this is also the case for 2016, you have three days left (April 18) to get a 2016 amended tax return postmarked by the Post Office showing April 18. After that the refund is lost.

[ligiaa15]

@fanfare  Deduction of $4,000 I am not sure What you mean.

I guess I will amend regardless of the stimulus check just to have everything accurately displayed. Since I am 100% of an independent and like I said before my parents haven’t claimed me in 3 maybe even four years. I was just curious about the stimulus check at first. But I don’t think I will be getting that if I am understanding correctly and the box is marked. 

[xmasbaby0]

If you could have filed as no one's dependent for 2016 or 2017---you need to amend those years.  For 2016 or 2017 if you were not someone else's dependent then you got a personal exemption of about $4000 that was income not subject to tax.  That could have increased your tax refund.  You have until midnight tonight to mail a 2016 amended return if you need to do ---after that it is too late to get a refund for an amended 2016 return.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894381-how-to-amend-change-or-correct-a-return-you-already-filed?...

A 1040X cannot be e-filed.  It must be printed and mailed.  It will take about 4 months for the IRS to process an amended return.  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.

Wait about 3 weeks from mailing and you can check the status of your amended return:

https://www.irs.gov/Filing/Individuals/Amended-Returns-(Form-1040-X)/Wheres-My-Amended-Return-1

https://www.irs.gov/filing/individuals/amended-returns-form-1040-x/amended-return-frequently-asked-q...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1908543-do-i-need-to-amend

[ligiaa15]

@xmasbaby0  I believe I was still a dependent in 2016. However for 2017,2018, and 2019 I was completely independent, the box was just marked incorrectly. But my parents didn’t claim me for those three years. 

[xmasbaby0]

Okay----so sounds like 2016 is not an issue.  But 2017 is an issue and you do have time -- you have three years from the original filing deadline to amend a tax return and receive an additional refund.  You should do that, because you would likely get more back for 2017, and maybe for 2018.  And for sure you need to fix 2019.  Sounds like you have plenty to do now if you are sheltering in place these days......Good luck with all of it and stay safe.

[ligiaa15]

@xmasbaby0  thank you so much! I will get on that tonight. Hopefully it all works out.