My 16-year-old son claimed himself - now my return is rejected. How long will paper filing delay my refund?

Oh man, this is like when my kid decided to cook dinner without telling me and I'd already ordered takeout. The IRS system is so rigid about this! Once someone claims themselves, the e-file system locks up like Fort Knox. I was shocked at how complicated this got when my daughter did something similar. Paper filing is unfortunately your only option right now - it's like going back to using carrier pigeons when you're used to email.

This situation involves a dependency exemption conflict. When your son self-claimed, it created an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) rejection code for your return. Filing a paper return was the correct initial response. For the secondary resolution, you have two options: 1) Your son can file Form 1040X to remove his self-claim if he doesn't meet the support test under IRC Section 152, or 2) You can maintain your paper filing if you can substantiate providing over 50% of his support. The IRS will likely initiate a soft notice review when they detect the duplicate claim.

You know what's interesting about this situation? The IRS actually has a specific process for handling dependent conflicts. Did your son meet the self-support test? If he earned less than $12,950 in 2023, he likely doesn't qualify to claim himself. I'm confident that amending his return is your fastest path forward. Have you verified whether he meets the qualifications for self-support under tax law?

Been thru this exact thing last yr w/ my 17yo. Paper returns = HUGE delays rn. IRS is backed up AF and you'll prob wait 3-4 mos min for processing. If you need $ faster, def have your kid amend ASAP. Also, pro tip: calling IRS is impossible these days (tried 8x myself, avg hold 97 mins). I finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got thru in like 20 mins. Worth it to confirm they received your paper return and to make sure they understand the situation. They can sometimes flag your return for priority processing if you explain.

I'm not going to sugarcoat this - you're in for a wait. I've been through this exact scenario and it's frustrating when you need that money. Here's what will happen: Step 1: Your paper return will sit in processing for 6-10 weeks minimum. They're still catching up from previous years. Step 2: If your son files an amended return, that takes another 16-20 weeks to process (not the fast timeline TurboTax suggests). Step 3: The IRS will eventually notice the conflict and may send both of you notices. Step 4: You'll likely need to provide proof you supported him (keep receipts for housing, food, clothing, etc.) I'm skeptical of any quick fixes here. Even with an amended return, you're looking at August-September before this is fully resolved. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

You need to act quickly! The IRS begins processing paper returns on January 29th, 2024, but they're already backlogged. If your son files his amended return exactly on February 15th when TurboTax allows it, you might get your refund by late April. However, if you wait until March 1st, you're looking at June or later. I've seen these dependent conflict cases take exactly 16 weeks to resolve when handled promptly, but up to 26 weeks if there are any delays. The difference between acting now versus waiting a few weeks could be thousands of dollars sitting in IRS limbo instead of your bank account!

According to Publication 501, a qualifying child must meet relationship, age, residency, support, and joint return tests. As per IRC § 152(c)(3)(A), your 16-year-old son is clearly eligible as your dependent if you provided more than half his support. The community consensus is clear: paper returns with dependency conflicts are taking 90-120 days minimum this filing season. My experience last year confirms this timeline. File Form 8379 (Injured Spouse Allocation) if you're due a joint refund that might be affected by this issue.