Taxpayer asks:
Hi Tax Girl,
I thought I’d see our accountant today but she’s out, then I found out about you!
My parents claimed me as a dependent in 2007 because they paid for my last semester of college (although I did work and live on my own most of the year). I was an independent in 2008 and I used Turbo Tax to e-file my federal refund which I received today. The software said I could be eligible for the $600 rebate credit but said nothing after that, I filled in everything I needed to.
I believe that I am eligible but I did not receive the rebate along with my direct deposit refund today. The IRS website says, “the IRS notes taxpayers will receive a single refund that includes any recovery rebate credit to which they are entitled.”
It also says “Some of the major factors that could qualify you for the recovery rebate credit include: You were claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return in 2007 but cannot be claimed as dependent by someone else in 2008.”
Do you know why I wouldn’t have received the rebate? Or how I can file to receive it even though I have completed and received my federal tax refund?
Thank you!!!!!
Go Phillies!
Taxgirl says:
I don’t know what you were studying in college, but my gut is that you’re going to do pretty well… Sneaking that “Go Phillies!” into your post definitely got you to the front of the pack (hey, it’s my blog, I can make arbitrary decisions like that).
The quick answer to your question is that if you were claimed as a dependent last year, but filed on your own this year, you should be entitled to the RRC. However, there are other factors that could affect your eligibility and/or the amount of the RRC. For one, you had to have at least $3,000 in qualifying income and in most cases, owe some tax. You also have to have a valid Social Security number.
If your qualifying income was more than $3,000 and you met the other criteria, here’s what I’d recommend:
- First, double check your return and make sure that you didn’t accidentally indicate that you already received a stimulus check. The RRC credit can be confusing!
- Second, double check with your parents to make sure that they didn’t include you this year – if they use software or an accountant, you might have been automatically added by mistake.
- Third, if both of those don’t work, give the IRS a call at 1-800-829-1040 and ask them what’s going on (be prepared to wait on hold for a bit).
Most software packages are pretty accurate, so my guess is that it’s related to your income/tax levels or a reporting error.
Good luck!
Before you go: be sure to read my disclaimer. Remember, I’m a lawyer and we love disclaimers.
If you have a question, here’s how to Ask The Taxgirl.
Also worth noting: The RRC is included in your refund. As in, when your tax software shows you the total refund you will be receiving, your RRC is already included (at least with TaxAct).
I don’t know how much attention you pay to where your refund money comes from, or whether you double-check the math on the forms yourself – but you may have actually been credited the RRC and just not noticed it, since the number is part of your refund, not a separate amount.