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Thread: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

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    Default Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    So like ive discussed before in other threads, my mom has taken initiative signing me up for a school, and i have an orientation date. i got no tax refund b/c of how she did my taxes (bitch ) and ive gotten emails about how my FAFSA is completed and stuff. now idk, this might not even go through until i sign up for classes and buy school materials but still, its confusing me as what to do when i eventually move out. im not dependant on her really, she helps me pay a few bills here and there but thats pretty much it, i dont even live w her. ive started dancing and from my first earnings i set aside tax money, and of course reinvested in dancing w fare and outfits which i believe will be tax deductible). (BTW, since i only danced once and i will be this Fri and Sat do i file for April 15?)
    so since i dont know what she put on the taxes/fafsa will she get in trouble when i finally do mine for dancing and they dont match up? will they not matter anymore when i end up not attending the school? and from a previous thread, i dont really think im gonna tell my part-time less than 30hrs/wk job about my other source of income, b/c once i make a barely significant amount (goal 3k) im gonna be out asap. all help appreciated

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    Default Re: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    Did you work in 2014? If not, you don't have to worry about filing dancer income for April 15. You'll file your 2015 earnings (January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015) in 2016. Without knowing your tax and family situation, you may want to ensure you both get on the same page for 2016 -- at least in terms of her not filing for you or claiming you as a dependent -- or else the discrepancy might get noticed and looked into.

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    Default Re: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    Quote Originally Posted by shanna dior View Post
    Did you work in 2014? If not, you don't have to worry about filing dancer income for April 15. You'll file your 2015 earnings (January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015) in 2016. Without knowing your tax and family situation, you may want to ensure you both get on the same page for 2016 -- at least in terms of her not filing for you or claiming you as a dependent -- or else the discrepancy might get noticed and looked into.
    Oh okay, thats a relief.
    Hmm, maybe i'll tell her i'm going to be postponing school, and i could redo the taxes she did before April 15?

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    Default Re: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    ^Not sure if you're talking about this year or next, but you can't just go to the IRS and tell them you want to change your mother's taxes. You're going to have to talk to her about it. Just tell her you're filing in your own for 2016 and that she can't claim you as a dependent -- provided, of course, that she isn't paying for at least half of your expenses.

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    Default Re: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    Quote Originally Posted by shanna dior View Post
    ^Not sure if you're talking about this year or next, but you can't just go to the IRS and tell them you want to change your mother's taxes. You're going to have to talk to her about it. Just tell her you're filing in your own for 2016 and that she can't claim you as a dependent -- provided, of course, that she isn't paying for at least half of your expenses.
    This years, but nevermind i see what youre saying now. And no, she isnt.
    So basically i dont have to worry about it since im gonna be filling for next year anyways?

    The only thing ill have to do this year regarding dancer income is set the money and reciepts aside and do the actual paperwork beginning of next year correct?

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    Default Re: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    Quote Originally Posted by alibby View Post
    The only thing ill have to do this year regarding dancer income is set the money and reciepts aside and do the actual paperwork beginning of next year correct?
    Well, technically you should be making quarterly tax payments based on your estimated earnings, but it's not the end of the world if you don't in your first year of self employment. Might not be a bad idea to get yourself to an accountant at some point this year just to make sense of it all.

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    Default Re: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    How old are you? If you're under 24, your mother actually can legally claim you as a dependent unless you legally "divorce" your parents and prove to the IRS you are providing over half of your own support. Also, bear in mind that with FAFSA, if your mother is also filling that out, come next year if you are still in school and have to fill it out again (it's done before every school "year") you will have to disclose to her your own income so she can add it. Unless you file FAFSA yourself. Not to scare you, but yes...if your FAFSA doesn't match up with what you and your mother both made, then there is the chance that you can BOTH get in trouble for falsely reporting the "total household income."

    And if you've only just started, assuming your club issues 1099s, they will not have been reported yet and won't be until early next year. So you will do your taxes from this year next year.

    I've just been through this all myself, freaked out, had a million questions, but these forums have been very helpful (Melonie is awesome!) But I managed to find a good accountant and filed my own taxes as a dependent (just didn't claim myself as an exemption!)

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    Default Re: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    Quote Originally Posted by shanna dior View Post
    Well, technically you should be making quarterly tax payments based on your estimated earnings, but it's not the end of the world if you don't in your first year of self employment. Might not be a bad idea to get yourself to an accountant at some point this year just to make sense of it all.
    I'll definitely be looking into an accountant, thank you.

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    Default Re: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    Quote Originally Posted by MelissaRenee View Post
    How old are you? If you're under 24, your mother actually can legally claim you as a dependent unless you legally "divorce" your parents and prove to the IRS you are providing over half of your own support. Also, bear in mind that with FAFSA, if your mother is also filling that out, come next year if you are still in school and have to fill it out again (it's done before every school "year") you will have to disclose to her your own income so she can add it. Unless you file FAFSA yourself.

    And if you've only just started, assuming your club issues 1099s, they will not have been reported yet and won't be until early next year. So you will do your taxes from this year next year.

    I've just been through this all myself, freaked out, had a million questions, but these forums have been very helpful (Melonie is awesome!) But I managed to find a good accountant and filed my own taxes as a dependent (just didn't claim myself as an exemption!)
    Ohh okay, i'm 20, and i just remembered she is paying for my health care so i guess that counts for something lol.

    I know I'd be extremely lost w/out this place. Kinda makes me wonder how girls did all this before without all the wealth of info we have today, ya know.
    What do you mean you filed as a dependant? b/c youre under 24?

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    Default Re: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    Yes. I am a college student (last year so no need for me and my parents to fill out another FAFSA based on the 2014 tax year...) and I am 21, so I'm legally a dependent and my parents can claim my exemption on their tax return. So I can't claim myself as my own dependent (two people cannot claim the same dependent or the second tax return filed will be rejected by the IRS.) Basically, I did not tick the box on my tax return for my own exemption when it asks who I can claim as a dependent. It even says next to it "do not check if you can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's taxes" so it's fairly hard to miss!

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    Default Re: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    If you're under 24, your mother actually can legally claim you as a dependent unless you legally "divorce" your parents and prove to the IRS you are providing over half of your own support. Also, bear in mind that with FAFSA, if your mother is also filling that out, come next year if you are still in school and have to fill it out again (it's done before every school "year") you will have to disclose to her your own income so she can add it.
    I am 21, so I'm legally a dependent and my parents can claim my exemption on their tax return. So I can't claim myself as my own dependent (two people cannot claim the same dependent or the second tax return filed will be rejected by the IRS.) Basically, I did not tick the box on my tax return for my own exemption when it asks who I can claim as a dependent. It even says next to it "do not check if you can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's taxes" so it's fairly hard to miss!
    correct, an correct actions in response.

    However, it's probably worth noting that the amount of your future FAFSA awards may be reduced ... because they will no longer be based on your mother's income alone, but instead based on your mother's income plus your own income.

    It's probably also worth noting that, without being able to claim yourself on your own tax return, the effective tax rate you must pay on your future camming income is likely to be 30% or more.

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    Default Re: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    Actually, she could get in trouble. If you make more than half of your living expenses (loans and health insurance do count), then you are INDEPENDENT according to the IRS. FAFSA is a different story. My roomates parents filed her as a dependent this year (before getting any of her tax info, go figure). They're about to get a rude awakening, as she had to file independent and they refused to listen.

    FAFSA on the other hand, your are dependent as long as they say you are. It should be 21 if you're not in school, 24 if you are, but apparently not according to the website.

    My Advice: talk to an accountant, get stuff squared away, and don't let her do taxes for you next year. Tell her flat out that you'll be filing independently. Chances are, you'll get less taken taxes wise (in my state you can only get a renters rebate if you're independent).

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    Default Re: Could my mom get in trouble for falsely claiming me as dependant?

    What shanna said about getting on the same page for the 2016 filing.

    In theory, if you are not living with her and she is not providing half or more of your support, she is not supposed to claim you as a dependent on her tax return. This is a regardless of your age or student status. As a practical matter though, you could piss her off if she is already paying for your health insurance and some other bills and then gets whacked with a higher tax bill. If you continue dancing and making real money, then you are definitely going to want that personal exemption. If dancing doesn't work out and you don't make much in 2015, then it may make more financial sense to let her keep the deduction and continue helping you out. Again, this is all something to be worked out with the accountants

    The FAFSA is another matter entirely. You are assumed to be a dependent unless you turn 23 before January 1 of the school year for which you are seeking aid. So if you are seeking aid for the 2015-2016 (generally late August 2015 through June 2016) school year, you need to have turned 23 before January 1, 2015 in order to be considered independent. There is no easy way around this anymore. A long time ago there used to be a provision that allowed financial aid officers to declare a student independent if he/she could prove self support for a two year period (with tax returns, bills, etc), but they did away with that in the 90s.

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