I am a sulf sufficient, 24-yr old college student. My parents have been claiming me as a dependent even tho I haven't been living at home or getting any support from them. I brough this to their attention last year (bc I thought it was not right that I could not clain the Lifelong Learning Credit bc they'd already filed), and just recently the IRS contacted both of us bc my SSN was used on their and my tax return last year. They are in the process of looking into it.
Should I get in trouble for this, even though I didn't know they were doing it til it was too late? What should I do about this situation?
2007-01-25 08:14:57 · 12 answers · asked by tdog 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
I don't think that you will get into any trouble because your parents used you as a dependent without your knowledge or consent. It will be your parents that will get in trouble with the IRS and they will most likely get audited and penalized for it.
2007-01-25 08:21:25 · answer #1 · answered by *Cara* 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Way too long and you are making way too much out of it. No lawyer is needed unless you want to formalize a custody agreement. Whoever has the body the most nights, 183+, has the right to claim the child. If dad files first and you try to claim the child you mail in your return with proof of the child's residency (school/medical records, lease agreement). You know there could be issues later so if you rent get the child's name on the lease as an occupant. They will make dad pay back any monies he received for the child. In order for dad to claim the child he must have a signed form 8332. This allows him the exemption and the child tax credit only. No head of household or EIC.
2016-05-23 23:23:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are a fulltime college student you may very well still be a dependent. I think the law might be state regulated. I don't know this for sure but it very well maybe that you just need proof from your college that you had full time status.
Also I highly doubt that your parents will get into major trouble. I doubt the amount of money it comes down to is more than a few thousand dollars, they will probably just have to make sure to pay it back.
2007-01-25 08:30:26 · answer #3 · answered by abcdefghijk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its your parents that should be worried they knew what they were doing was wrong. What I think will happen is that deduction will be taken off their taxes and then refigured then they will have to pay fines and interest on any money owed. This is in no way your fault. Your parents new this is wrong, You can't blame your self. You did the right think and you should be able to get all the tax deduction your intitle to. If you parents get mad at you tell them I had to file taxes Its the law Im sorry but you know Im not your dependent, I love you but you know you werent being honest
2007-01-25 08:29:17 · answer #4 · answered by path2631 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would try to work something out with your parents before the IRS dissallows your exemption on their return. See if maybe they will give you the money you would have gotten back from the IRS if you had claimed yourself. If not than inform the IRS that you have not recieved any support from them and that you have not lived at home at all and that you have the legal right to claim yourself. Tell your parents that if the IRS dissallows your expemtion than they will have to pay back taxes, interest and penalties on the years the IRS has questioned.
2007-01-25 08:23:01 · answer #5 · answered by emeraldsky21 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if they audit, your parents may get into trouble. But i doubt it, unless you tell teh IRS that they were lying and you never lived there. Everything should be ok though, hopefully no audit happens.
Are they going to give you a portion of what they saved for claiming you? ...since you lost out on benefits from being considered a dependent
2007-01-25 08:24:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't get into too much trouble. They were claiming you as a dependent on their paperwork. You really didn't have any participation in the act. Just cooperate with the authorities and things should be fine for you. Your parents are likely going to end up in serious trouble, unfortunately.
2007-01-25 08:24:06 · answer #7 · answered by Eudaimon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you won't be in trouble. They're the ones who did something wrong on their return, not you. And they're not going to go to jail over it or anything like that, although they will have to pay back taxes, interest and maybe penalties.
Now that you're 24, you're too old to be a qualifying child anyway, so the problem shouldn't come up for this or future years.
2007-01-25 17:45:12 · answer #8 · answered by Judy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how long have you been on your own? your 100% self sufficient right? starting with the first year you have been on your own, they should not have been claiming you. when they look over your records, see that your older then 19, you have been making too much money, or have been (this is a big one) filling under a different address, they will disallow your parents deductions, they will owe (not you) delinquent taxes, interest, and penalty's. depending on their income, and the number of years they have been doing this, it could be thousands and thousands of dollars.
2007-01-25 08:25:02 · answer #9 · answered by Jen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, your parents are more likely to have hassles than you are. If you're self supporting they can no longer claim you and the exemption they claimed for you should be dis-allowed by the IRS. You;ll get your exemption back if that happens -- and your folks will get a bill from the IRS. ;)
2007-01-25 08:46:48 · answer #10 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋