Tax Dependent Question

[savemachine]

Hi, I am using turbotax for my tax this year. This is the first time that I will ever file a tax return by myself, My question is regarding the dependent status.

I am 25 years old and was claimed on my mother's tax return last year. When I get to "Any Special Situations", it asked to "Select any that applied in 2005", and one of the options is "Could be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return". The age requirement for this is under 19 years old or under 24 but going to school full time. Now I am not sure what to pick on this since I was never under 24 when my mom claimed me. I was a little over 24.

Do I check "Yes I could be claimed as a dependent in 2005", or do I not check it.

Thank you

[sweeps]

You should answer "No". Unfortunately your mother will have to file an amended return (Form 1040X) because she was/is not allowed to claim you as a dependent.

[locolorenzo24]

agree with sweeps...

When 2005 ended, you could not be claimed as a dependent as you turned 24/25 during that year....however, in 2004, were you under 24 and going to school full-time during ANY part of that year? If so, she was able to claim you for the 2004 tax year, 2005 taxes.

[savemachine]

FIrst off, thank you all for a speedy reply, and I will try to clarify my situation again, as I didn't think I was being real clear

My mom claimed me as her dependent last year, and the whole last year (2005) from January 1st through Dec 31st, I was never under the age of 24, since I turned 24 in 2004. I went to the school full time until September 2005.

My concern is that in Turbotax, there is a section which asked whether or not I could be claimed as a dependent in 2005. Naturally after reading the crieteria, I would definitely say "No", since in 2005, I was 24 going on 25. But since my mother claimed me as a dependent, should I select Yes instead so that she won't get in trouble.

Thank you for all your response

SM

[jeffrey]

You can't select "yes" because you don't qualify. Even if you select "yes" in an attempt to help your mother, it won't hold water with the tax authorities and may even get you in trouble (along with your mom) for putting in false information.

As sweepsplayer mention above, your mom is going to have to file an amended tax return not claiming you as a dependant. This will likely mean she will have to pay some money in taxes, but is much better than if the IRS catches the mistake and levies penalties against her.

If you want to be generous, since you can now claim yourself on your tax return, you can use the money you save to help your mother pay off the extra tax she owes for all the help she's provided while you were going to school, but that is optional on your part.

[savemachine]

Great!, thank you so much for all of your help