Rejected E-file - Adopted child with full year residence claimed by someone else

[cornsnicker3]

Unique situation:

We adopted a child from foster care in mid-2017, but she lived with us for the entire duration of 2017 while she was in foster care. We were not able to claim her in 2016 because she technically didn't live with us for more than 6 months in 2016. 

Fast forward to now, my wife and I attempted to e-file, but it was rejected because someone else claimed the child. Her last name was changed, but I made sure to go to the Social Security office in November to get a new card which has arrived in the mail prior to 2018. The child's father is out-of-picture and he presumably wouldn't know anything about where she is or even what her new last name is. The child's mother is homeless and probably not technologically savvy enough file a return so quickly. My suspicion is that her last name hasn't updated in the IRS system.

I am guessing I am gonna have to mail in the paper return with a copy of her new birth certificate and social security card and hope for the best.

[AmyW · Accepted solution]

There are several reasons why your return may be rejected with the error that you are describing.

• First, the Social Security Number may be entered incorrectly. To check the dependent's Social Security Number's. go to the Personal Info tab, and verify the SSN's have been entered correctly. If the social was entered incorrectly, you can edit the information by clicking Edit to the right of the dependent to correct it.
• Second, someone else could have claimed the dependent. If your dependent was claimed when they should not have been, you can ask the other party to amend the return. If they will not remove the dependent, you may file on paper. The IRS will contact both parties to determine who is entitled to claim the dependents, and will credit the person that met the requirements. If it is determined that the other party should not have claimed the dependent, the IRS will make them pay back the exemption along with any penalties or interest associated with their false claim.
• Important Note:  If you suspect the possibility of Identity Theft, please contact us as soon as possible so that this matter can be further investigated. 

You can find out more information about this process in the article below.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3299938