Tax Year Prior to 2020: What if my parents claimed me as a dependent in 2019 but I no longer live with them in 2020 can I still claim the stimulus check?

[DMarkM1]

@ThisIsMyTaxAccount Everything appears to be as it should be.  You received the first stimulus payment based on 2018 tax return information.  You did not get the round two stimulus as your parents claimed you on their 2019 return.  Finally, you are eligible to receive the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return as long as no one can claim you on their 2020 tax return.  The amount you are eligible to receive is $600 to cover the round two amount.  

There is no provision to payback or penalize for any stimulus payments.

As for the future, nothing has been approved for a third round.  If there is a third round the rules will be published at that time. 

@Mandi116  Yes, you need to file a 2020 tax return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.  You will enter $1 as interest income to allow the e-file with zero income.  When you are ready to begin you can start here with TurboTax Free File.   

Here is a link with more information on the Recovery Rebate Credit.

[VolvoGirl]

@ThisIsMyTaxAccount   I can't address all your questions but yes you do get the second round $600.  Both payments are really based on your 2020 return.  Don't worry that your parents may have gotten one for claiming you as a dependent. Actually they probably didn't.  Dependents have to be under 17.

[MarkW2]

So what gets entered into the amount if I were claimed as a dependent last year and my parents got the $500 stimulus for me. Do I  enter $500 for the first stimulus payment and $0 for the 2nd??

[DMarkM1]

You will enter "zero" for both boxes as you did not receive any stimulus payments regardless of what your parents may or may not have received. 

If you are age 17 or older, your parents also did not receive a child stimulus payment, as that is the maximum age. 

Here is a link with more information on the Recovery Rebate Credit.   

[LJVP1]

Sorry for a late reply but if I understand correctly you did not recieve the first check your parents did so you would enter 0 for both the first and second

[gumbie13]

What I'm my dad claimed me on his taxes with out my permission but I worked the hole yr of 2020 and going file for income tax will I receive my stimulus check

[DawnC]

Your dad does not need your permission to claim you if he qualifies to do so.   A parent can claim their child if:

Qualifying child

• They're related to you.
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
  • No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
• They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
• They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.

If you provided more than half of your own support, you can't be claimed as a dependent.   However, if your father already claimed you and you try to e-file as an independent taxpayer, your return will be rejected.   But, if you are eligible to file as independent, claim the recovery rebate, and mail your return.   Your father will have to amend his return and pay back any credits received for you if the IRS determines that he can not claim you.   If you are claimed on 2 tax returns, the IRS will intervene.   @gumbie13

[gumbie13]

Im 30 yrs old my dad has not took care of me at all but he he is a dead beat Dad who will do something like that and try to claim me ..but im trying figuer out now that I worked the hole yr of 2020 and want to file my income tax and haven't received a stimulus check will I be eligible to receive a stimulus check if for some reason my dad has claimed me on his taxes

[VolvoGirl]

You have to file your own return.  You can get the Stimulus payments on it for 2020.  If your dad claims you and efiles before you then your return will reject.  Then you will have to print and mail your return and let the IRS determine who can claim you.

You can get the Stimulus payment on your 2020 return.  

When you go through the federal review tab it will ask how much you got if any.  Or to enter your stimulus payment in TurboTax, type "stimulus" (without the quotes) in the Search box, then click the link that says "Jump to stimulus."

After you have entered your tax information and are ready for the Federal Review, it will be the first question.

If you are trying to trigger it, you can go to Other Situations, answer any questions and click Done. The next automatic selection is Federal Review and it will ask about payments received.

The Recovery rebate credit is on 1040 line 30.  It either adds to your refund or reduced a tax due.

[Kimberlycoonce1]

I am a 20 year old college student. My parents claimed me as a dependent in 2019 but are not claiming me for 2020 taxes. Can I get the stimulus check? And if so how?

[VolvoGirl]

Just by filling out your 2020 return.  

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.

There will be a screen with 2 boxes for each round.  If you didn't get one enter a 0 in the box.

When you go through the federal review tab it will ask how much you got if any.  Or to enter your stimulus payment in TurboTax, type "stimulus" (without the quotes) in the Search box, then click the link that says "Jump to stimulus."

After you have entered your tax information and are ready for the Federal Review, it will be the first question.

If you are trying to trigger it, you can go to Other Situations, answer any questions and click Done. The next automatic selection is Federal Review and it will ask about payments received.

[KrisD15]

If you are not their dependent, file a 2020 Tax return. 

If you were their dependent for 2020, you are not eligible whether they claim you or not. 

According to the IRS:

"Economic Impact Payments were based on your 2018 or 2019 tax year information. The Recovery Rebate Credit is similar except that the eligibility and the amount are based on 2020 information you include on your 2020 tax return."

IRS FAQs

[dharvey]

DavidD66  you answered this question back in April 2020.  Is it still true now?   I am 22 living on my own, my parents claimed me in 2019 but will not this year.  They received 2 stimulus checks but I did not receive any.   I am having a hard time answering the question about stimulus checks in the tax return because i read if i was a dependent last year i don't qualify for the credit but if i answer yes, it wants the exact numbers of the stimulus checks which would be zero for me.    I am unsure of how to proceed, i really dont want to have to do an amended return.      thank you for help

dharvey 

[VolvoGirl]

Just file your own 2020 return and say you didn't get any Stimulus payments.  You do qualify to get it on your 2020 return even if you were a dependent last year for 2019.  And as a dependent nobody got it for you since you were over 17.  But now you can get it.

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.

There will be a screen with 2 boxes for each round.  If you didn't get one enter a 0 in the box.

When you go through the federal review tab it will ask how much you got if any.  Or to enter your stimulus payment in TurboTax, type "stimulus" (without the quotes) in the Search box, then click the link that says "Jump to stimulus."

After you have entered your tax information and are ready for the Federal Review, it will be the first question.

If you are trying to trigger it, you can go to Other Situations, answer any questions and click Done. The next automatic selection is Federal Review and it will ask about payments received.

The Recovery rebate credit is on 1040 line 30.  It either adds to your refund or reduced a tax due.

[Rextate]

Question for Tax Expert...

What if Im 35, my sis claimed me in 2019, but hasnt for 2020, because when I do work, its under the table. So what if she doesnt claim me for 2020, and I dont have any documented work, how can I get sum freakin relief?? Please help.