Dad mistakenly put me down as a dependent.. Not getting a tax refund, what can I do?

Question

I'm 19 and I would always let my dad do my taxes. And I don't live with my parents or anything and I let him do my taxes and was wondering why I didn't get my refund and I went to the irs.gov and tracked my tax refund and it told me.

"You did not qualify for the Stimulus payment because you were claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer."

My dad must have mistakenly put me down as a dependent on my tax forms. Is there a way that I can get the check. b/c Im kind of broke and was really relying on this money for rent/food..

(And btw my dad didn't put me down as a dependent on his forms so he didn't get my $600)

Answer 1

You could both amend your tax returns and this time don't have your parents claim you as a dependant.

Answer 2

I don't see why your dad wouldn't file an amended return unless he's afraid he might get in trouble or unless the two of you are feuding.

Answer 3

Why aren't you asking your dad these questions?

Answer 4

I am not joking when I say this, check your return to make sure that your dad did not put on your return that you could be claimed by another.  If your return is ok, then call the IRS [phone] and report the Identity Theft to them.  The IRS will looking to it and if you qualify for the stimulus check they will send one to you, if the IRS can get the work done by December 31.  If not then you will have to claim the rebate on your 2008 return.  Fixing and Identity Theft issue can take up to 9 month for the IRS to fix.  I hope this helps, I know it is not the information you were hopeing for.

Answer 5

You can do nothing. Only thing that can be done is your dad filing an amended return, Form 1040X, which he probably won't do, but you can ask

Answer 6

You do not need to live with your parent to be a dependent.  

If you were a student and you did not provide over half of your own support, you are usually claimed as a dependent of a parent.

If you were not a student but you made $3,400 or less, you are usually claimed as a dependent of a parent.

If neither of these apply to you, then you could amend your own return and claim yourself.  It may or may not result in an additional refund to you.  It will not result in an additional stimulus payment to you, for that you will have to file your own return in 2009 and claim yourself.

BTW, if your dad claimed you, he wouldn't get any stimulus payment for you, because you are over age 16.

Ask your dad for a copy of your tax return and decide what to do.  Next year, do your own taxes.