i e filed my taxes and to my surprise someone i dont even know who it is claimed one of my children what steps do i take to find out who it is and what do i do about it

George_1950

How did you receive information that someone claimed one of your children? Who is this information from?

JudyKayTee

The only way you would know this would be if IRS so advised you - if you file a protest IRS will tell you who filed, audit that person, you take the exemption if you are entitled.

This sounds a little bizarre - how did the person get the child's SS number? - but I have heard of this when child support is allowed and both people file.

JudyKayTee

WHOOPS - I mean when child support is ordered!

twinkiedooter

The someone else was your ex-husband maybe? If he claimed your child and your settlement agreement in your divorce said you were to claim child, then the IRS will honor your claim and deny his claim. You need to contact IRS to see what paperwork you need to fill out to straighten this mess out.

v_e

If someone (not an ex-husband or Father of the child) has claimed your child's SS# on their taxes, then you maybe are dealing with Identity theft. Take the advice from the others that have posted. Find out from the IRS who is doing this. Have the IRS audit their taxes/claim. If it is someone that you don't know, go through the steps of identity theft for your child. Seek out a good lawyer or get a subscription to a service like Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. that can help you put together everything. Ask the prepaid legal about the identity theft protection plan that includes a lawyer as part of the process.

vivarantthang

you can't find out who did it it is against the law to release that info. The IRS will send you both letters and you both must prove the children lived with you. If they can't, they must repay whatever refund they got. I went through this with my kids deadbeat dad. He wouldn't even pay child support and had the nerve to claim them on his tax return. I knew who it was the minute they kicked back my tax return. It is too bad that we can't have them arrested for it. To me it is grand larceny!