Tax question?

Question

My mom always does my taxes, and this year she said she was going to claim me and my son so she would'nt have to do as much paper work and she'd just give me the money. She gave me five hundred at first and said she only got a grand and didn't want to give it to me all at once. Does this sound shady, and is she even lying about the amount because I wouldn't know?

Answer 1

I answered you in another section, but let me add the following.

Were you required to file taxes at all? If not, then if you and your child lived with your mother, it was probably best that she claim you and your child and get a refund. But even with a small income not requiring a tax return, your refund may have been more than $1,000 because of credits.

However, if you were required to file taxes, the manner in which your return was handled (you would have had to file your tax return with no dependents and no exemptions) may not have been to your advantage.

I recommend you take responsiblity for your own taxes for 2007. All of the commercial preparation places deal with your situation all the time. If you do not want to do your own taxes, use a paid preparer who has a motivation to file a return that is in your best interest.

Answer 2

You don't say if you worked, and if so, how much you made and how much was withheld, and how old you are and if you are a full-time student - and all of these things matter. If you live with your mom, are under age 19 (or under 24 and a full-time student) or made under $3300 for the year, then what she did might at least be legal - otherwise it probably isn't.

Beyond that, if you had income, you probably would have gotten more back by filing that she did.

This can be undone by her filing an amended return, and you filing a return claiming your son.

Answer 3

She can't decide the claim you, and you can't decide to let her. Either you are a dependent under the law, in which case YOU do not have the right to claim yourself, or you are not. You did not provide the information needed to be certain, but unless you live with her, it is extremely unlikely she can claim you. The rules are on page 19 of the instructions for the Form 1040.

Answer 4

Yes, it is shady. And possibly illegal! Whether or not she can claim you depends upon facts that you have not presented. Your age, school status, residence and income can all come in to play here.

Whether or not she can claim your child will depend upon whether or not you claim your child yourself. If you cannot be claimed as a dependent by your mother due to your age and / or income and if you earned enough to have to file a tax return, you should probably be claiming your child yourself. If you do, your mother cannot claim the child. And if you do not live with your mother, she cannot claim your child on her return at all although she could possibly claim you depending upon the circumstances.

Answer 5

I agree with eightball,And galager. I'll tell you what. Next time look in your phone book for the nearest location of the Internal Revenue Service - Taxpayer Assistance Division.
1-800-829-1040
Bring all your W-2's along with Social Security cards for both of you and they will do the work for you AND file your taxes for you too for FREE!

Answer 6

I'm no tax expert, but I think what she is doing is illegal.

If you are over 18 years old, unless you are a full time student, she cannot claim you on her taxes. And I don't think she can claim your child either.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Answer 7

That sounds like a huge rip-off to me. You get a $3,300 tax exemption per dependent, so depending on the tax rate that your mom is paying, that $6,600 exemption is worth between $1,188 and $2,178. Plus, if you would have qualified for the Earned Income Tax Credit, it would have been worth even more.

Answer 8

And you have a child?