My friend filed her taxes with H&R Block. She received a letter in the mail stating that her tax refund has been denied to her due to mistakes on her tax forms. She then called H&R Block to solve the issue and was told that she couldn't claim her child as a dependent because he had already been claimed. She is with her child's father and he doesn't file taxes. It is an unknown source that has claimed her son. She then asks H&R Block who claimed her son and they wouldn't give her that information without another $200 payment. She already made a $200 payment when she initially filed with them. How can they charge her again for the same tax case? And, who does she contact to solve this issue? She already tried calling her local IRS office but they are not accepting phone calls. She comes to me for help all the time but unfortunately I do not have an answer for her. Please help us solve this issue. Thank you.

This is a new twist on this problem. Usually we get people who file electronically and find someone else beat them to claiming the child.

Do you know if H&R Block filed the return electronically or by mail? What she needs to do is file the retunr by mail with a cover letter saying no one else is eligible to claim her child. The IRS will then investigate and report back. They may not tell her who filed the other return, but they should accept her return, especially if she has previous returns claiming the child.

H&R Block charge normally by the forms filled out, they do not charge one price to a "case" The more forms and more papers filed, the more they cost, The last time I used them, about 10 years ago, my cost was well over 600 US dollars.

So yes, if they do extra work for you, you can expect to pay more.

Now, I do not see how you could claim the child. If the child is not living with you, you did not support the child more than 1/2 of the child's expenses.

The issue for you, is not who else claimed the child, but do you. YOU> have the legal right to claim the child on the taxes.

If you do, Then you notify the IRS in writing of this, and file your taxes not electronicly but in writing, showing proof the child lived with you and you supported the child.

Chuck, were did you get that the child is not living with the friend?