Someone claimed me as a dependent on their tax return.....and I'm 28!?

Question

Hello. I recently discovered that I have been claimed as a dependent by an unknown person on their tax return. Now I typically file my own taxes each year without the use of services. Usually an individual will receive notification if someone has claimed them. However I did not find out about this until I checked the IRS website and discovered that I did not qualify for the stimulus rebate because somone claimed me as a dependent. Now I have been to my local IRS office and they have informed me that because of confidentiality laws they cannot give me the identity of the person who did this. I have to send a certified letter to the IRS main office notifying them of this fraud and detailing how I discovered it. Is this right? I have my own suspicions as to who has done this, now I need proof. Any suggestions other than what I have already been told?

Answer 1

This is not that big of a deal so don't panic.  There are a lot of possibilities so don't assume the worst.  Just do what the IRS suggests - they will take it from there and it will probably never happen again.  All you have to do is give them the facts - why you feel  you are entitled to your own exemption.

By the way, your age has nothing to do with it.  If you make less than the personal exemption amount (not including Soc Sec) for that year ($3400 for 2007 and $3500 for 2008), you can be claimed as a dependent if somebody is providing support for you and you are either living with them or related to them.

You are upset because you didn't get your stimulus rebate so you must have made more than that amount or you wouldn't be getting a rebate anyway.  Just remember that you will NOT miss out on the rebate.  The worst that could happen is that you have to wait and receive it as part of your refund next year.

But in the meantime, just do what the IRS suggests and let them run with it.

Answer 2

Did you electronically file?  If so, your return would have immediately rejected if someone else had claimed you.  

If your return was accepted, but now you are disqualified for the rebate, the first place I would look is at your tax return.  I bet it shows that you could have been claimed as a dependent.  

If this is what happened, insist that your tax service process an amendment immediately.  You may not receive your stimulus check payment until you file for 2009.  However, you may get a refund since your exemption was not taken.

If in fact you were already claimed as a dependent, then your return would not have been processed.  Your preparer needs to track this down.  Have the preparer consult with someone who knows how to handle this rather common error.

Answer 3

They aren't allowed to tell YOU who did it, but at a minimum will collect back from that person anything they got from claiming you, plus interest and penalties.

Answer 4

Check the copy of your tax return to make sure you claimed yourself. If you didn't the computer will interpret that as if someone claimed you.

Answer 5

It appears that you are a victim of identity theft.  You will need to start the process of getting this cleared up.  Notify the IRS in writing about this.  Send everything certified mail because you will need proof of delivery.

The IRS will be able to help clear this up.  It will NOT be a short easy process.  Any tax refunds that you are due, including your tax rebate, will be severely delayed until this is resolved.

Contact your state's attorney general as well.

Answer 6

there are tax lawyers check with one ,are you on your own? kc

Answer 7

Something doesn't sound right here.  

If you were claimed as a dependent by someone and you claimed your personal exemption, the IRS would automatically contact you to resolve the issue.  Check your tax return and make sure that you claimed your personal exemption properly.  If you didn't then you must file an amended return claiming your pesonal exemption to start the investigation.

Where on the IRS website did you discover that you were claimed as a dependent?  There is no such information given out on the "Where's My Rebate?" page.  It only tells you how much your rebate is, or tells you that no information is available at this time.

Answer 8

You should have spent the time writing the letter, instead of asking the question.  i.e. - do what they say.  It is only a minor inconvenience.

You need to make sure this person is caught.  They are not only scamming you, but commiting income tax fraud.

My experience has been that if you deal straight with the IRS, they will treat you right.

Answer 9

If you already mailed in your taxes the IRS will contact you. Contact you and the person who claimed you to find out who has the proper claim. They will not let 2 people have it. If you have not filed yet go ahead and do it and then the process will start. It will take a while.