Do I Need To Amend or Refile My Tax Return After Dependent Claim Rejection?

Thanks for the quick response! I'm pretty sure my return was flat-out rejected and I never successfully filed after that. I recall getting the rejection notice and then my kids amended their returns, but I don't think I ever went back and resubmitted mine. That would explain why I never got my refund. So it sounds like I should prepare a complete original 2022 return now and mail it in. Is there anything special I need to include explaining the situation with my kids' amended returns, or will the IRS be able to match everything up on their end?

You should definitely file a complete original 2022 return by mail since you never successfully filed. There's no need to include a special explanation about your children's amended returns - the IRS will now have their corrected information in the system showing they can be claimed as dependents. I would recommend including all supporting documentation that proves they qualify as your dependents (school records, medical records, proof they lived with you, etc.) to make the process smoother. Also, make sure to sign the return and use certified mail with a return receipt so you have proof of when you submitted it.

How does this taxr thing actually work? Do you have to upload all your personal tax info to their site? I'm always skeptical about sharing sensitive financial data with random websites.

Did it help you figure out how to handle the dependent issue specifically? My situation is similar but my kids are in college and I'm not sure if they qualify as dependents anymore since they have part-time jobs.

You upload images of tax documents like your rejection notice or forms, and it uses AI to analyze them and give you specific guidance. They have security measures in place and don't store your documents after analysis. I was hesitant too but found their privacy policy reassuring. For dependent issues specifically, it was super helpful. It explained exactly what boxes need to be checked on both your return and your kids' returns to make sure they're consistent. It also has a dependency qualifier tool that asks questions about income, living situation, and support to determine if someone qualifies as your dependent.

This sounds too good to be true. The IRS phone lines are ALWAYS jammed. I've literally called 50+ times over several weeks trying to get through about a similar issue. Are you saying this service somehow jumps the queue? How is that even possible?

I looked at their website but couldn't figure out exactly what they do. Do they just call the IRS for you? Couldn't I just put my phone on speaker and do other stuff while I wait? Why would I need a service for this?

It doesn't jump the queue - that would be impossible. What it does is use technology to wait in the IRS queue for you. Their system calls the IRS, navigates the menu options, and then holds your place in line. When an agent is about to pick up, it calls and connects you. So you get your place in line without having to sit there listening to hold music for hours. I initially thought the same thing about just putting my phone on speaker, but the problem is the IRS often disconnects calls when their queue gets too full, so you can wait for an hour only to get disconnected. With Claimyr, if that happens, their system automatically calls back and gets back in line for you. That's the main value - persistence without you having to actively manage it.

Could you clarify if there's a specific income limit for dependents? My daughter made about $14k last year from her part-time job while in college, but I still pay for her tuition, housing and most expenses. Can I still claim her?

For a qualifying child (which includes full-time students under 24), there is no income limit. Your daughter can earn any amount and you can still claim her as long as you provide more than half her total support and she lives with you for more than half the year (with exceptions for temporary absences like college). The income limit ($4,700 for 2023) only applies to qualifying relatives who aren't your children. This is a common misunderstanding that causes a lot of problems. So yes, you can absolutely claim your daughter as a dependent even with her earning $14k, as long as that money isn't covering more than half of her total expenses.

I used TurboTax for a similar situation. Since it was a rejected return that was never officially filed, I was able to just go back into my TurboTax account, access the return, fix the issue with my dependents, and resubmit. But since it had been more than 45 days since the rejection, their system wouldn't let me e-file again, so I had to print and mail it.

Thanks for the info! I'll check if I can still access my old return in TurboTax. 45 days have definitely passed for me too, so I'm guessing I'll have to mail it in as well. Did you need to include any special notes or forms explaining that it was a resubmission of a rejected return?