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Level 2
posted Jan 16, 2021 4:28:42 PM

Recovery Rebate for child born in 2020

I have a new dependent born in Feb of 2020.  Obviously, they were not included in either round of stimulus payments.  I have updated my dependent information when I started my 2020 taxes to include the new dependent.  When completing my taxes and I get to the part for, check on the amount of stimulus I received, I enter the amount that I received, which does not include the monies for the new dependent.  The TurboTax software tells me I received the proper amount.  How can I fix this?  It is not taking into account the stimulus owed for the new dependent born in 2020.  I even set the 2nd stimulus to 0, and it verifies that the Turbotax software is not taking into account the new dependent.  Please help!

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24 Replies
Level 15
Jan 16, 2021 5:07:22 PM

Children born in 2020 were not included in the 1st stimulus because those checks were based on 2018 or 2019. No one got stimulus money for babies born in 2020 because the IRS did not know about those babies or have their SSN’s. But on your 2020 tax return you can claim your child born in 2020 for the stimulus money, as well as the other child-related credits.  You enter your new dependent in My Info.  When you go through the screens in My Info make sure to say your child lived with you the WHOLE year.  When it asks the oddly worded question about whether your child paid for over half their own support say NO.

 

  

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 in 2020, you can get it when you file your 2020 return in early 2021

This will be found in the Federal Review section under Other Tax Situations. 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-2020-tax-return

 

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

 

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

 

 

good post with screen shots for recovery rebate credit

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/filed-as-an-independent-and-single-but-haven-t-received-either-stimulus-checks-will-i-ever-get-any/00/1781494

Level 2
Jan 17, 2021 6:38:49 AM

The problem is that the TurboTax software only allows you to enter the amount of stimulus you received into the boxes.  When I do that, the software tells that they are confident that I received the proper amount of stimulus.  But I am 1000% certain that it is not considering the newly added dependent I put in at the beginning.  When I enter 0, it also gives me the amount for a family of 4, and with the new dependent we are now a family of 5, so I have verified this way as well.  There is no manual input for trying to get the stimulus for my new dependent.

Expert Alumni
Jan 17, 2021 10:50:19 AM

Yes,  TurboTax should update with the new dependent.  One other item to check... are any of your dependents showing as age 17 or older?  If so, they are not qualifying for the Economic Rebate child payment.  Check the last line of paragraph 8 in this IRS link

Level 2
Jan 17, 2021 12:38:55 PM

That is correct, one of my dependents turned 17 at the end of 2020.  But according to the law as passed, the stimulus I received is based on the child's status as of Dec 31, 2019.  I was paid for that dependent and the money I am trying to receive is for the new dependent born in 2020, which the IRS could not have known even existed, so wouldn't have paid stimulus to.  The issue is, the software now sees the 17 year old as non-qualifying, which would be correct, but doesn't account for the new dependent born in 2020.  Even the IRS page sites a child turning 17 in 2020 and you get to keep the stimulus you received because it is based on your 21019 filing status. 

Level 15
Jan 17, 2021 12:41:38 PM


@jwladisc wrote:

That is correct, one of my dependents turned 17 at the end of 2020.  But according to the law as passed, the stimulus I received is based on the child's status as of Dec 31, 2019.  I was paid for that dependent and the money I am trying to receive is for the new dependent born in 2020, which the IRS could not have known even existed, so wouldn't have paid stimulus to.  The issue is, the software now sees the 17 year old as non-qualifying, which would be correct, but doesn't account for the new dependent born in 2020.  Even the IRS page sites a child turning 17 in 2020 and you get to keep the stimulus you received because it is based on your 21019 filing status. 


That is correct you can keep the payment received for the child.  But you cannot double-dip for the same child if they are 17 in 2020.

All stimulus payments are advance tax credits from the 2020 federal tax return.

Level 2
Jan 17, 2021 12:58:23 PM

I am not trying to double dip on the child that turned 17.  I am trying to recover the stimulus for both payments for the child that was born in 2020.  The new dependent did not receive either of the stimulus payments as they were not listed on my 2019 returns.

Level 15
Jan 17, 2021 1:02:56 PM


@jwladisc wrote:

I am not trying to double dip on the child that turned 17.  I am trying to recover the stimulus for both payments for the child that was born in 2020.  The new dependent did not receive either of the stimulus payments as they were not listed on my 2019 returns.


Sorry, missed that part for the child born in 2020.  That child born in 2020 is eligible for both stimulus payments, $500/$600.

If you entered the child as a dependent in the My Info section of the program correctly, the stimulus payments for the child will be included as a tax credit on the federal tax return, Form 1040 Line 30.

 

Go back to My Info and check all your answers carefully for the dependent.  Make sure you selected Your Child, the date of birth in 2020 is correct, the child lived in your home for the Whole Year since he was born in 2020, that the child did NOT provide over one-half of their own support, that there was NOT another person supporting the child in your household and the child has a valid Social Security number.

If the answers are correct then delete the dependent and re-enter.

 

I have already tested this on my 2020 Premier desktop edition.  Entered a child born in 2020 and the program gives both stimulus payments combined as a tax credit on Form 1040 Line 30.

Level 2
Jan 17, 2021 2:59:56 PM

I have done all of that.  The problem is since my older dependent turned 17 in 2020, he now shows on my 2020 taxes as a not qualified dependent.  So the software is recognizing the new dependent, but when I put in the money I already received, which was for the older 17 year old dependent, the software then says they are confident that I received my full stimulus.  Kind of an odd situation because of a new born and the older turning 17 in the year that we get stimulus.  So the coding of the software is wrong, and needs to look at the status of the older 17 year old dependent as of the law which is age on Dec 31st 2019, when it internally calculates my total monies.  

Level 2
Jan 17, 2021 3:01:12 PM

For example put a older dependent at 10/15/2003 and a newborn of 2/15/2020, and you will see the problem.  

Level 15
Jan 17, 2021 3:05:04 PM


@jwladisc wrote:

I have done all of that.  The problem is since my older dependent turned 17 in 2020, he now shows on my 2020 taxes as a not qualified dependent.  So the software is recognizing the new dependent, but when I put in the money I already received, which was for the older 17 year old dependent, the software then says they are confident that I received my full stimulus.  Kind of an odd situation because of a new born and the older turning 17 in the year that we get stimulus.  So the coding of the software is wrong, and needs to look at the status of the older 17 year old dependent as of the law which is age on Dec 31st 2019, when it internally calculates my total monies.  


No the software is correct.  The child who is 17 in 2020 is not eligible for a stimulus.  The stimulus is an advance tax credit from the 2020 federal tax return.

The IRS used 2019 as the year for calculations because that was the latest return available at the time.

The Recovery Rebate Credit is all based on tax year 2020.  See the Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet in the IRS Form 1040 instructions for tax year 2020 on page 59 - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf#page=59

Level 15
Jan 17, 2021 3:06:37 PM

I follow you.  It does seem the program thinks you already got the right amount because the 17 year old dropped off and you added a new child.  Maybe you can change the birthdate of the 17 child to be under 17 then after you go though the Stimulus page change it back?  I saw some posts before about changing the age but it might have been for something else.  

Level 15
Jan 17, 2021 3:10:11 PM


@jwladisc wrote:

For example put a older dependent at 10/15/2003 and a newborn of 2/15/2020, and you will see the problem.  


Did you enter the $600 stimulus for the 17 year old for the second stimulus?  If so, remove that amount and it should work out Ok.

Level 2
Jan 17, 2021 3:22:36 PM

Not correct.  The law was written to issue money based on your dependent on Dec 31, 2019.  I also received both checks and the money I received obviously could not have included the child born in 2020 as they were not listed in any IRS documentation.  So regardless of what I received for either round, I am still owed the money for the dependent born in 2020.

Level 15
Jan 17, 2021 3:31:26 PM


@jwladisc wrote:

Not correct.  The law was written to issue money based on your dependent on Dec 31, 2019.  I also received both checks and the money I received obviously could not have included the child born in 2020 as they were not listed in any IRS documentation.  So regardless of what I received for either round, I am still owed the money for the dependent born in 2020.


Yes, you are owed for the child born in 2020.  Remove the amount received for the older child and then you should see the stimulus amount of $1100 for the child born in 2020.

Level 15
Jan 17, 2021 3:40:03 PM

The recovery rebate credit was paid out to eligible individuals in two rounds of advance payments called economic impact payments. The economic impact payments were based on your 2018 or 2019 tax year information. The recovery rebate credit is figured like the economic impact payments except that the credit eligibility and the credit amount are based on your 2020 tax year information.

 

You may be able to claim the recovery rebate credit only if your economic impact payments are less than your credit. This happens when:
• You are eligible but were not issued an EIP 1, an EIP 2, or neither an EIP 1 or EIP 2, or
• Your EIP 1 was less than $1,200 ($2,400 if married filing jointly) plus $500 for each qualifying child you had in 2020; or
• Your EIP 2 was less than $600 ($1,200 if married filing jointly) plus $600 for each qualifying child you had in 2020.
You don’t qualify for the recovery rebate credit if, for EIP 1:
• You received $1,200 plus $500 for each qualifying child you had in 2020,
or
• You’re filing a joint return for 2020 and together you and your spouse received $2,400 plus $500 for each qualifying child you had in 2020.
And for EIP 2:
• You received $600 plus $600 for each qualifying child you had in 2020,
or
• You’re filing a joint return for 2020 and together you and your spouse received $1,200 plus $600 for each qualifying child you had in 2020.

 

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf#page=57

Level 2
Jan 18, 2021 11:21:15 AM

Wouldn't changing the amount I received in my taxes be somewhat fraudulent?  Maybe I will try changing the age, going through the stimulus portion and then changing the age back before submitting for filing.  It seems like my help ticket to the IT department would trigger someone to fix their software.  I know it is a bit unique of a situation, but I am also sure I am not the only one out there with this issue.

Expert Alumni
Jan 18, 2021 11:39:10 AM

I would suggest not submitting to e-file yet as the IRS will not start accepting e-files until Feb 12th.   So, maybe wait and see if your IT ticket gets something changed or creates a workaround before that.  But yes, I am sure you are not the only one in this situation, so it will be dealt with.  

New Member
Feb 28, 2021 10:31:39 PM

Has there been a resolution to this? I am in the same situation.  Dependant born October 2003 and new baby born in 2020.  I noticed when I put October 2004 I was given the $1100 for the new baby but not given anything when I left the birthday October 2003. I would love to know what I could do to remedy this situation. Thank you.

Expert Alumni
Mar 1, 2021 6:35:06 AM

The payments were an advance credit for 2020.  2019 information was used in sending out the payments since 2020 tax returns had not been filed at the point the stimulus payments were sent out.  They are being reconciled when you do your 2020 return.  In some cases, people may have been given a stimulus payment based on their 2019 dependents that did not qualify based on their 2020 dependents, and vice versa.  

 

In your particular case, you received a stimulus for a dependent that qualified based on your 2019 return (dependent was under 17 in 2019).  Now that you are reconciling your stimulus when filing your 2020 return, you only have one dependent that qualifies, your new baby.   You previously received the stimulus for 1 dependent, which based on your 2020 return is what you are entitled to.  If your other dependent would have been under 17 at the end of 2020, you would have received additional stimulus money for the additional qualifying child.

New Member
Mar 10, 2021 3:23:16 PM

I am having this issue too...

 

Now, I filed my taxes and it indeed said I am owed $1100 for my child also born in February. Is this amount supposed to be given with the refund or is it a separate payment that is coming?

Level 15
Mar 10, 2021 3:24:18 PM


@eapoole88 wrote:

I am having this issue too...

 

Now, I filed my taxes and it indeed said I am owed $1100 for my child also born in February. Is this amount supposed to be given with the refund or is it a separate payment that is coming?


It is included in the 2020 federal tax refund

New Member
Mar 10, 2021 3:25:41 PM

Mine definitely wasn't! I only received the refund amount that was stated I'd receive before I even added my child in 

Level 15
Mar 10, 2021 3:25:51 PM

If it showed up on your return on line 30 it is included in your refund or reduced a tax due.   No it does not come separate.  

Level 2
Apr 15, 2021 1:28:57 PM

So even though the law was written and it is stated on the IRS page that a child under 17 on Jan 1, 2020 qualifies for stimulus, that because my son turned 17 on 9/2020, he shows up on my 2020 taxes as a non-qualifying child, which in turn means, the number of my qualifying dependents didn't change and thus again, I do not qualify for a recovery rebate?  Sounds odd that the law was written to include him for the stimulus, but for the taxes he no longer qualifies because it is based on the number of dependents for 2020 and not the law...