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March 26, 2020
Question

Removing and then re-adding the same dependent caused my tax bill to increase by $1.5K

  • March 26, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 0 views

I just completed my 2019 return today and owe $3,400.  I am claiming 3 children on my 2019 taxes.  I wanted to see what the difference would be if I only claimed 2 of 3 children.  By only claiming 2 of 3 children, my tax bill increased by over $2K, so I re-added the same child back to my return to claim all 3 children.  However, my tax bill did *not* to the original amount of $3,400.  Instead, my tax bill jumped to $4,200.  Any ideas what could have caused this.  I re-entered the exact same information, so my tax bill should have returned to $3,400.  

 

Could this be a glitch in the Turbo Tax software?

 

Appreciate any advice you might have.

 

Thanks,
Jason

3 replies

GiseleD
March 26, 2020

It sounds like there might be a data entry error in the third dependent's information. Without seeing your return, I cannot be sure, but may I recommend thoroughly reviewing all of the information for the third dependent? Please closely check the date of birth and all questions regarding dependency. 

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JasonB1Author
March 26, 2020

That certainly seems logical...however, I removed his information and added it back in a dozen times and still get the same results.  I am confident that the data was accurate the first time and each time I entered it.

There has to be something else somewhere that is causing this...or a glitch in the software.

 

Thanks,
Jason

AmyC
Employee
March 26, 2020

You could have a piece of information stuck in your browser. To correct:

  1. Delete the dependent.
  2. Log out of your return.
  3. Try one or more of the following:
  4. Log back into your return.
  5. Enter the dependent again.
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JasonB1Author
May 1, 2020

After many weeks, I finally discovered the problems.  

 

The first problem was that when I removed the 3rd dependent, all of his college-related expenses and information were deleted...so I had to re-enter them.  

 

The other problem which caused a much bigger change in my tax bill was my filling status.  For some reason, when I had removed the 3rd dependent, TurboTax changed my filing status from MFJ to MFS.  Once, I figured that out and changed my filling status back to MFJ for both my Federal and State returns, everything went back to the original values.

May 2, 2021

Where do I sign at

May 5, 2021

Your statement does not provide enough information to provide assistance.

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