I am trying to do a friend's taxes. Last year (2008) she filed as head of household and received an earned income credit for her 17 year old daughter (a full time college student). This year, that same daughter, who had only $4,000 in wages from a part time job, filed her own taxes on line. The daughter claimed herself as a dependent by checking off that she cannot be claimed on someone else's return. This was incorrect, as she lived with her mother all year and her mother provided more than 50% of her support. Now my friend cannot claim head of household status, nor the earned income credit without her daughter. Her daughter already did her taxes on line and received her refund (which included the $250 Making Work Pay credit). Without her daughter, who she should be able to include, my friend will owe money this year. Any suggestions?? Should I file and amended return for her daughter and include a copy with my friend's tax return? What about the money her daughter already received? Please help...

The daughter can file an amended return, this time indicating that she is a dependent of someone else, and include payment for the taxes and/or refund owed back. Then the mother files her return, claiming her daughter as her dependent. The mother will probably have to file a paper return rather than eFile, as the daughter's SS number will already be flagged in the system as someone who can not be claimed as a dependent.