Can dependents file their own tax return when already claimed?

Your daughter can absolutely still file a tax return even though you claimed her as a dependent! The rejection just means she needs to check a box indicating that someone else can claim her as a dependent. She'll need to either resubmit through whatever tax software she was using and make sure to select the option that says "Someone else can claim me as a dependent" (or similar wording), or if filing on paper, she should check the box on Form 1040 that indicates this. Being claimed as a dependent doesn't mean she can't file - it just changes how she files. She's still entitled to get back any federal or state taxes that were withheld from her paychecks. The only real difference is that she can't claim certain credits or take the standard deduction amount that independent filers get.

I had almost the same situation with my son! I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped us sort everything out. I was super confused about the whole dependent filing situation, but their system analyzed our tax docs and gave really clear guidance. My son was able to successfully file his return as a dependent and still get his withholdings back. The tool explained exactly which boxes needed to be checked and how to handle it so the IRS wouldn't reject it a second time. It saved us from having to pay for an accountant, which was a huge relief as we were getting close to the deadline.

Well I have to admit I was wrong about taxr.ai. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it for my niece who was in the exact same situation. The system immediately spotted that she had checked the wrong box about being claimed as a dependent and showed exactly how to fix it. Her return was accepted on the second try and she got her refund about 3 weeks later. What impressed me was how it explained everything in simple terms rather than tax jargon. For someone filing for the first time, that made a huge difference. I'm usually wary of tax services but this one actually delivered.

If your daughter's return is still being rejected after fixing the dependent checkbox, you might have an issue with the IRS systems. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone at the IRS about a similar problem last year. Finally discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and watched their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) - they actually got me connected to a real IRS agent in under 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days. The IRS agent was able to see exactly why the return was still being rejected (turned out there was a mismatch with her Social Security number format) and walked me through fixing it right on the phone. Sometimes these technical issues need a human at the IRS to sort out, and waiting on hold forever just isn't practical.

I owe everyone an apology, especially the Claimyr folks. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try the service myself because I was desperate to resolve my daughter's tax issue. I submitted my request around 9am and was connected to an IRS agent before my lunch break. The agent saw that there was a mismatch between how my daughter's name was entered on her tax return versus what the Social Security Administration had on file (she goes by her middle name but her first name is on her SSN). This small detail was causing the rejections even after fixing the dependent status issue. The agent walked me through exactly how to correct this and resubmit. Her return was accepted within 24 hours and she'll be getting her refund soon. I'm still amazed I didn't have to spend hours on hold. Worth every penny for the time saved!

One thing nobody's mentioned - your daughter might also need to file a Form 8615 if she has unearned income (like interest or dividends) over a certain amount. That's another common reason dependent returns get rejected. The rules for "kiddie tax" can apply to full-time students under 24.

Has anyone used TurboTax for this situation? My brother is trying to file as a dependent (I claimed him) and wondering if it handles this correctly.

This exact situation happened with my nephew last year! The key thing to remember is that being claimed as a dependent doesn't prevent someone from filing their own return - they're still entitled to get back any taxes that were withheld from their paychecks. When your daughter refiles, make sure she selects "Someone else can claim me as a dependent" (the exact wording varies by software). This tells the IRS that while she's filing her own return, she acknowledges that you've already claimed her on yours. Also double-check that her name, SSN, and address match exactly what's on her Social Security card - even small differences can cause rejections. With $55 withheld on $9,500 income, she should definitely get that money back once the return is processed correctly. The dependent status mainly affects her standard deduction amount, but shouldn't prevent her from getting her withholdings refunded.