My 17 year old son accidentally claimed himself on his tax return

This happens more often than you'd think! Your son likely saw the "Can someone claim you as a dependent?" question while filing and misunderstood it. You have two options: You can either wait for him to file an amended return (which will take more than just the 11 days processing time - probably closer to 6-8 weeks for the amendment to be processed), or you can file without claiming him this year. If you support him and he meets the dependent requirements (lives with you over half the year, you provide more than half his support, etc.), you're legally entitled to claim him. It typically makes more financial sense for the parent to claim the dependent rather than the child claiming themselves. For next year - yes, you can claim him again if he meets the dependency requirements. This year's filing doesn't change anything for future years.

Been through this exact situation! I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was super helpful when my daughter did the same thing last year. They reviewed both our returns, identified exactly where the error happened, and gave step-by-step instructions on how to fix it without waiting for the full amendment process. You upload your documents, and they run them through their system that identifies these dependency conflicts. The report showed us exactly which forms needed correction and saved us from having to call the IRS multiple times. Saved me hours of stress trying to figure out the right approach!

I was skeptical at first about taxr.ai like I mentioned, but after struggling with my son's tax situation for days, I decided to try it. Honestly worth it! Their system immediately flagged the dependent checkbox error on his return that was causing my rejection. The analysis showed exactly where in the filing sequence he'd made the mistake, and they provided a simple amendment guide that walked through the exact forms needed. Ended up fixing it myself without having to pay a tax preparer or wait on hold with the IRS for hours. My return was accepted within days after making the corrections they suggested.

If you're trying to reach the IRS about this, good luck... I spent 3 weeks trying to get through about a similar dependent issue. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and actually got through to a human at the IRS in about 20 minutes. They have this smart system that navigates all the IRS phone menus and holds your place in line, then calls you when an agent is about to pick up. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent confirmed that in cases like yours, the parent has priority in claiming the child if they qualify as your dependent (which it sounds like he does). They explained exactly what forms your son needs to file to correct his return. Saved me days of frustration trying to get through their phone system!

Update: I was completely wrong about Claimyr in my previous comment! After getting disconnected from the IRS for the 5th time yesterday and wasting 2 hours, I tried it out of desperation. It actually works exactly as described. Their system called the IRS, navigated all the menus, and waited on hold for about 47 minutes (I could see the timer on their website). When an agent was about to answer, my phone rang and connected me directly. The IRS agent confirmed that we needed to file Form 1040X for my son, and I didn't have to remove him from my return. Feeling pretty stupid for calling it a scam before trying it, but wanted to post this in case anyone else is struggling to get through to the IRS about dependent issues like this.

Your best option is to file an amended return for your son. Having him file a 1040X to correct his return is the proper way to handle this. The form will let him indicate that he should be claimed as a dependent. You should hold off on filing your return until his amendment is processed, though that can take several months. If you're concerned about missing the filing deadline, you can file for an extension using Form 4868, which gives you until October 15 to file.

Did your son have enough income to even need to file? If he made less than $12,950 in 2024, he wasn't required to file at all unless he had self-employment income over $400.

This is such a common mistake with teenage filers! I went through the exact same thing with my daughter two years ago. The good news is that it's totally fixable, though it requires some patience. From my experience, you have three realistic options: 1. **Wait for your son to file Form 1040X** - This is the "correct" way but takes 8-16 weeks to process. Your son would amend his return to indicate he can be claimed as a dependent. 2. **File your return without claiming him this year** - You'll get a smaller refund now, but you can file your own 1040X later to claim him once his amendment processes (adding even more waiting time). 3. **File for an extension** - Gives you until October to file, but delays your refund. Honestly, if you need the refund money soon, option 2 might be your best bet despite the hassle. You'll at least get some money now rather than waiting months for the full amount. One tip: Make sure your son understands the dependency rules for next year! The software questions can be confusing, but if he's still in high school and you're supporting him, you should be claiming him. Good luck!