When I got to my Tax Breaks I got $500 for Advance payments, Child or Other Dependent Tax Credits. My child is my dependent but files his own taxes and he's 19 yrs old.

[dannycrocker74]

So what am I missing? I don't understand how I got $500 more refund under Dependent Tax Credits when he claims himself on his taxes and is over 17.

[JulieS]

The fact that you got $500 for an "Other Dependent" credit suggests that your 19 year old is showing a dependent on your tax return. If you did not mean to claim him as a dependent, you will need to review that section and remove him. 

1. Log in to your TurboTax Online account, or open your TurboTax CD/Download program.
2. Click Take me to my return.
3. Click on Personal Info.
4. Locate the dependent that you wish to edit/modify and click Edit.
5. Make the changes that you need to make.

[2020brett]

I want to claim Head of Household as I do support my 19yr old son but he does claim himself on his own taxes. I know I can claim him to get HOH but IRS rejected because his Ssn was used already..all that I'm aware of. The  Program does not give me the option to say he claims himself.  I am so frustrated. 

[2020brett]

I should clarify. My son files his own taxes but I want to add him as a dependent to qualify for HOH. 

[xmasbaby0]

@2020brett You cannot have it both ways.   In order for you to file as Head of Household you have to claim a qualified dependent.   If your son cannot be claimed as a dependent you cannot file HOH unless you have some other blood-related dependent to claim.   

And....since you claimed him, his return saying he cannot be claimed will be rejected when he tries to e-file.  

Is he your dependent or not?    You say he is 19.   Was he a full-time student in 2021?   If he was not a student did he earn more than $4300?

Am I Head of Household?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894553-do-i-qualify-for-head-of-household

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2900097-what-is-a-qualifying-person-for-head-of-household

If you qualify as Head of Household, when you enter your marital status (single or married filing separately) into MyInfo, and then enter your qualifying dependent, TurboTax will offer HOH as your filing status.

[2020brett]

[2020brett]

[xmasbaby0]

You are trying to use the rule for divorced or never married parents who have a signed agreement between them.   In order to use that rule, you would have to say that you are the custodial parent of your son so that you could file as HOH.  And your son would have to say on his own return that he cannot be claimed as a dependent on anyone else's tax return.

[2020brett]

I am custodial parent and my son did specify on his tax forms that nobody else can claim him. 

[xmasbaby0]

If your son said he cannot be claimed then you will have a mismatch in the system.   You cannot e-file if your son already filed and said he cannot be claimed.   So now if you are going to claim him, you have to file by mail.   And he has to amend his return and change his answer in My Info to say he CAN be claimed as someone else's dependent.   If he is getting the $1400 stimulus he will have to pay it back.

[xmasbaby0]

You need to have a better understanding of what it means to claim a dependent, and understand who can be claimed.  You say he is 19.   If he was a full-time student in 2021 you can still claim him.  If he was 19 at the end of 2021 and was NOT a student and earned over $4300 you cannot claim him---which will also mean you cannot file as HOH.

WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?

You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2021 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:

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.

Qualifying relative

• They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
• 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 lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
• They made less than $4,300 in 2021.
• You provided more than half of their financial support.

When you add someone as a dependent, we'll ask a series of questions to make sure you can claim them. There may be other tax benefits you can get when you claim a dependent.