Stimulus Question About Dependent Who Is Now Filing On Her Own

[pointman7890]

My elderly friend was claimed in 2020 on a 2019 tax return as a dependent by her son who made too much to qualify for the previous stimulus checks sent out in 2020.  My understanding is that since he (son) didn't qualify as the filer (because of income), neither did she as his dependent.  Is that correct?

This year (2021) she is filing on her own for tax year 2020 using the TurboTax Deluxe software.  Because of her fairly low income in 2020, there is a page in the software that says the following:

"It looks like you qualified for the stimulus, did you get any payments?" If she answers "No", is shows a refund of $1800.  If she answers "Yes" and enter $0 received for first-round payment and $0 received for second-round payment on the next screen, it still calculates to a refund of $1800.

My question is this: Can anyone explain this and shed some light on this situation and how to proceed?  If she is considered as not qualified since she was claimed in a previous year, how does she answer this?  The temptation is to answer "Yes" since the software is suggesting that she may qualify, but just need to be sure.

Thanks!

[xmasbaby0]

If your friend cannot be claimed as someone else's dependent for 2020 then she can get that $1800----and she will also be eligible for the latest $1400 amount.   The recovery rebate credit on the 2020 tax return is based ONLY on the person's 2020 circumstance----not on 2019.   She can say on her return that she did not receive any stimulus money and she should see it added to line 30 of her Form 1040.  It will be part of the refund that ends up on line 34.  

[npierson7]

Yes, she might be qualify for the both stimulus payments if she files her tax return independently. You can answer Yes and enter 0 payments received.