Return rejected because of dependent

MY DEPENDENT SAID HE COULD NOT BE CLAIMED

Your dependent filed a return without saying he could be claimed on your return and your return was rejected?  AFTER his return has been fully processed and he has received his refund, he has to file an amended return that says he can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.  Amended returns must be prepared on a Form 1040X.  It takes the IRS at least four  to six months to process an amended return.

 Meanwhile, since your e-filed return has been rejected, you now have to print and mail it in to the IRS.  You will not be able to e-file. You do not have to wait for your dependent’s amended return to be processed.  Remember that when you mail a return, you need to include copies of your W-2, etc. with your return.  Use a mailing service like certified mail that will track it so you will know that the IRS received it.

Or—-another option

GET IP pin in order to e-file if your dependent’s SSN was claimed on another return

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-takes-steps-to-help-prevent-refund-delays-by-accepting-duplicate-dependent-returns-with-an-ip-pin-for-2025-filing-season-taxpayers-encouraged-to-sign-up-soon-for-ip-pin-online-account

https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin

For your dependent:

See this TurboTax support FAQ for amending a tax return - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-return/amend-change-correct-return-a...

If a dependent mistakenly indicated no one can claim them and causes a rejection of the parent's return, the IRS now allows the first-listed (primary) taxpayer (such as the parent) to get an IP PIN and still successfully efile and avoid having to file a return on paper.   Your dependent will need to amend their return to indicate someone else is claiming them. See this TurboTax FAQ for help with amending.

"Beginning in the 2025 filing season, the IRS will accept Forms 1040, 1040-NR and 1040-SS even if a dependent has already been claimed on a previously filed return as long as the primary taxpayer on the second return includes a valid Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN). This change will reduce the time for the agency to receive the tax return and accelerate the issuance of tax refunds for those with duplicate dependent returns. In previous years, the second tax return had to be filed by paper."

"In the scenario where the dependent has already been claimed on another tax return, the IP PIN provides an important new option. The taxpayer listed first on an e-filed tax return claiming dependents can provide their current year IP PIN when they file. If they do, the return will still be accepted. The spouse (if married filing jointly) and the dependents on the tax return don’t need to provide an IP PIN if they don’t have one."

The IP Pin will change each and every year. This is an Identity Protection Pin.  

You can get an Identity Protection pin here, or if you lost your IP PIN, you can go here to Retrieve IP PIN. 

Here are two ways to navigate to the section to enter the 6 digit IP PIN: 

1. Log in and open your return ("Take me to my return") 
2. Once the return is open, then go to the Federal Taxes tab. 
3. Subtab Other Tax Situations 
4. Scroll down to Other Return Info. 
5. Choose Identity Protection PIN and Start (or Revisit.) 
6. Next screen asks:  "Did you or any of your dependents get an IP PIN from the IRS for this year's taxes?" 

Or another way: 

1. Open your return if not already open.  ("Take me to my return.") 
2. Once the return is open, click at the top on MY ACCOUNT, then choose TOOLS. 
3. In the Tools window choose TOPIC SEARCH. 
4. Enter IP PIN without quotes. 
5. In the selection list highlight IP PIN and click GO. 
6. Next screen asks:  "Did you or any of your dependents get an IP PIN from the IRS for this year's taxes?"