What happens when a college boy files taxes & claims himself & then parents file & claim him as a dependent?

Question

What if the boy files before the parents file. The parents are entitled to claim him during college. Which one has to file an amended tax return?

Answer 1

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You will have to file a paper return
you and the person who claimed the dependant will receive a letter stating that 2 people used the dependants social security number, They will ask that both partys submit proof of who was actually eligible to claim the dependant. This can include school records, Dr records, copy of a lease agreement acknowledging that the child lives at the address of record.
The IRS will make a determination of who actually qualifies to claim the dependant. The person who claimed the dependant will then owe back any refund they received in error plus interest and penalties. This also raise a red flag on that persons future tax returns for up to the next 10 years.
Calll the IRS at 1-800-829-1040
Respond to any correspondence from the IRS immediately to expedite your claim.
This will cause a delay in processing your return and your refund

The son files an amended return

Answer 2

Assuming both the college boy and the parents are filing their taxes electronically, the parents' return will be rejected by the IRS. The parents then should file a "paper return" by mail and claim college boy. College boy should file an amended return showing that he is a dependent on someone else's return and therefore is not entitled to the $3,300 personal exemption. College boy may need to pay back some of his refund. Good luck.

Answer 3

The college student can file his return on his own BUT when filing he has to state that he will be claimed as a DEPENDENT on someone else return. So, first find the person who filed his taxes and find out if this was done, if it was not then the college student has to go back and amend his return. As the parent I would not file my return until this is sorted out. Because if you file now and the student did not state he could be claimed as a dependent then the IRS will reject your return. Also keep in mind if the college student did not file properly, then as the parent you you can not electronically file. You must mail in your return.

Answer 4

If the parents are eligible to claim him, then the student is the one who must file the amended return. If the parents are not eligible to claim him but do anyway, then they would have to file the amended return.

Simply being in college does not necessarily mean that parents can claim the student - there are other requirements also.

Answer 5

If your parents claim you as a dependent, you will be ineligible for the rebate, but you may still benefit under the plan. While the rebate depends on your 2007 status and income, it is actually a rebate toward your 2008 taxes. According to the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, taxes would be cut in 2008 from 10 percent to zero percent on the first $6,000 dollars of taxable income for individual taxpayers. So if you have taxable income in 2008, you will see a tax cut when you file in 2009.

Answer 6

You will both get a letter within a few months saying that you claimed yourself and so did your parents. They might ask to see proof of who was eligiable to claim you.

This happend to me a few years ago. I had been supporting myself through college, living in my own and paying for everything myself for 8 months. My parents said they had the right to claim me but I didn't agree - they weren't supporting me I was. Anyway the IRS us both a letter stating that since I lived on my own for 6 or more months I was eligiable.

My parents didn't get any fines or penalties, they just got a warning and the IRS said they couldn't claim me anymore unless I moved back home for more then a 6 month period.

Hope this helps!