Stimulus - Dependent in 2019 not in 2020

[1967Chats]

My college aged daughter was claimed as my dependent in 2019.  So we did not receive a dependent allowance for the 2 stimulus payments.  This year she will not be claimed as our dependent since she has a full-time job.  We are doing taxes now and TurboTax asked if she received a stimulus payment - she answered 'no', TT says she is eligible for a stimulus payment.  Is this correct?  I thought stimulus payments were based on 2018 or 2019 tax returns where she was listed as a dependent.  I do not understand how this is possible - any advice would be most appreciated.  I just want to make sure her tax return is correct before she submits it.  Thank you.

[xmasbaby0]

If your daughter was older than 16 you would not have received a stimulus payment for her.   You cannot get stimulus money for a dependent child older than 16--- and you say she has been in college.  You did not lose out on a stimulus payment you could have received for claiming her in 2018 or 19.  

If she cannot be claimed as your dependent on a 2020 return she can get the stimulus money on her own tax return.  She needs to use the recovery rebate credit in the Federal Review section to get it.

[fanfare]

the payments were based on information from 2018/2019 returns, until 2021 when they became based on 2020 returns.

[SweetieJean]

Was she still a college student in 2020? 

[neparry]

I want to piggyback off this question.. my adult brother has been supported by me and I claimed on 2019 taxes. I did not get anything on his behalf for either stimulus checks. For 2020 he is filing taxes even though he did not work. I am not claiming him. The tax prep service says he gets 1,800. Same question. Can this be right?

[VolvoGirl]

Yes.  1,200 for the first one and 600 for the second one.

The Stimulus Checks are really based on your 2020 return we are filing in 2021.  So any amount you already got will be reconciled on your 2020 return line 30.  If you didn't get a Stimulus Check (and qualify) or you qualify for more it will be added to your 2020 return.  But the good news is if they paid you too much they won't take it back.

[neparry]

Ohhhh. Makes sense! Sweet! Thank you!

[wigleyd]

I claimed my kiddo in 2019 and her mom did in 2020.  I don't see my daughters stimulus money available as a "recovery credit."  Will her mom see it as available on her taxes? or should i see it?  I did get her 3rd stimulus but not the first 2.  She's 9.

[VolvoGirl]

Mom should get it on her 2020 return.  

[gloriah5200]

Yes, the parent claiming the child on the 2020 return will be the one seeing the stimulus payment covered in the Recovery Rebate Credit.

[xmasbaby0]

If you did not get the stimulus based on 2018  or 2019, and cannot claim her for 2020, then you do not get stimulus for your child by using the recovery rebate credit.   The credit is controlled by 2020.   Some people received checks last year based on 2018 or 2019 returns and do not have to pay it back, but if you cannot claim the child on your 2020 return the IRS is not going to go backwards and give it to you based on claiming her in 2019.

If her mother is claiming her for 2020 then "mom" should use the recovery rebate credit to get the 1st and 2nd stimulus on her 2020 return.   The IRS is using 2019 and 2020 returns to issue that $1400 3rd stimulus--so it's up for grabs to whichever one of you the IRS sends it to.   Maybe you will even both get it.