Parents attempting to claim me as dependent after I filed taxes with H&R Block - will this affect me?

This is actually a common issue, especially with young adults living at home. Whether your parents can claim you as a dependent depends on several factors, not just who files first. For them to claim you as a dependent, you need to meet the qualifying child or qualifying relative tests. As a qualifying child, you must: be under 19 (or under 24 if a full-time student), live with them for more than half the year, not provide more than half of your own support, and not be filing a joint return with a spouse. Based on what you've shared - you're 20, living with them, and made $17k - the key question is whether you provided more than half of your own support. "Support" includes housing, food, medical expenses, education, etc. If your parents provided more than half, they might legitimately be able to claim you. If they do claim you and you've already filed without checking the box that you can be claimed as a dependent, there will be a conflict when they file. The IRS will likely send notices to both of you questioning the discrepancy. You should talk with your parents and compare the total support you provided versus what they provided. If they rightfully can claim you, you may need to file an amended return (Form 1040X) checking the box that you can be claimed as a dependent. This might reduce your refund if you claimed certain credits.

I was in a similar situation last year with my parents claiming me while I was working part-time during college. I found this amazing AI tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that saved me so much stress. I uploaded my documents and my parents' info, and it analyzed everything and showed exactly who could claim what. The tool confirmed my parents could claim me but also showed me how to adjust my own filing to avoid problems. It even generated a letter explaining the situation that I could send to the IRS if they questioned anything. Seriously, it analyzes all the dependent rules and scenarios so you know exactly where you stand.

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and wow, it cleared everything up! I uploaded my return and answered questions about my living situation, and it confirmed I met all the tests for being my mom's dependent. It showed me exactly what would change on my amended return and calculated I'd need to pay back about $850 from my refund (mostly from education credits I shouldn't have received). It even created my 1040X form with all the right numbers and included a clear explanation letter for the IRS. The best part was the peace of mind - no more wondering if I was doing something wrong or if I'd get in trouble. Would definitely recommend if you're dealing with dependent issues!

Hey, I had almost this exact situation last year! After trying for WEEKS to get someone at the IRS on the phone to clarify, I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting hours or getting hung up on. The IRS agent explained that when there's a dependent claim conflict, they send notices to both parties asking for documentation. If you need to get definitive answers directly from the IRS about your specific situation, I'd really recommend trying their service. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Talking directly with the IRS gave me way more confidence than what my parents' tax preparer was claiming. They walked me through exactly what would happen and what documentation we'd need.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway since nothing else was working. Holy crap, it actually worked! I got a call back in about 20 minutes with a real IRS agent on the line. The agent confirmed that in situations like this, the correct approach is for both parties to file according to what they believe is right. If there's a conflict, the IRS will send notices requesting documentation. They walked me through the support test in detail (which is the key for most dependent disputes) and confirmed that since my parents pay over 50% of my expenses, they were correct in claiming me. The agent also said I wouldn't face penalties if I amended my return now instead of waiting for a notice. Saved me so much stress knowing exactly what to do!

Have you looked at the specific rules for the qualifying child test? Since you're 20, you'd have to be a full-time student for at least 5 months of the year to be claimed as a qualifying child dependent. If you're not a student, then they'd have to claim you under the qualifying relative test, which means your income would need to be under $4,400 for 2023 - and you said you made $17k.

Be careful, both you and your parents could get audited if there's a mismatch! My cousin and her mom both got letters from the IRS last year when they had conflicting dependent claims.

Based on everything you've shared, it sounds like your parents can legitimately claim you as a dependent. Since you're 20, a full-time student, living with them, and they're providing more than half your support (housing, food, insurance, etc.), you meet all the requirements for being their qualifying child dependent. The good news is that this situation is very common and not something to panic about. You'll need to file an amended return (Form 1040X) to check the box indicating you can be claimed as a dependent. Yes, you'll likely need to repay part of your refund - particularly any education credits or earned income credit you may have claimed that have different rules for dependents. I'd recommend going back to H&R Block since they prepared your original return. They can help you file the amendment correctly and calculate exactly how much you'll need to repay. The sooner you file the amended return, the better - it shows good faith and helps avoid any potential issues when your parents file their return. Don't stress too much about this - it's a learning experience and you're handling it responsibly by trying to get it sorted out correctly!