[JessicaBaker]

It's been a long while since I've been around these boards but hopefully I'm back now.

We finally got our taxes done and tried to e-file but our return was rejected. Apparently someone else already claimed our fd. She was placed with us early in March 2008 and is still with us, so we definitely meet the 6 month rule. However we are guessing her previous foster home (who only had her two months) claimed her. Anyone been in this situation before? How did it get resolved?

[DianeS]

That's not too much of a problem. You just have to file by paper instead of electronically.

Later on, everybody who claimed the same child will get a letter that asks for proof of your ability to claim her. At that time you send in your placement papers.

You'll get your refund (or credit or whatever), it just may take some time.
(Sometimes you get your refund before you get the letter asking for proof, sometimes you don't get the refund until they've received the proof. Probably depends on when the IRS catches the duplicate SS number.)

Do double-check her SS number. Sometimes mistakes are made becaause the caseworker gave fps the wrong number. And don't bother figuring out who claimed her incorrectly, it doesn't matter who did it, the IRS will sort it out.

Hang in there!

[Newshyde]

that happened to me too. I called the IRS 1-800 number and they told me to paper file and that I would get my refund. He said sometime in June or July whoever filed on the same SS# would get letters asked to verify and it would list what paperwork I would need to send it. He said not to send anything in with the taxes, just to file by paper as if I had no idea somebody else claimed the child. I haven't gotten my refund yet, but I just filed 2 weeks ago so I'm not expecting it yet. Good luck.

[irelady10]

My fs' cw won't give me his ss #- she says I'm not allowed to claim him. gggrrrr! I'm picking my battles and chose not to battle this. I'll amend my return when I adopt him and am given his ss #.

[buttascotchbaby]

A friend (and fellow foster/adoptive mom) had similar problems filing her return this year, using Turbo Tax. I am not sure what program you are using, but if it is TT there have been a number of glitches this year. It took me a few times before I was able to file. My friend ended up having to send hers in via snail mail after she kept getting the message that her kids had been claimed by someone else (bio and foster and adopted!) and got her check in the mail, no problem.

[EandDmom]

This happened to us this year. We contacted their caseworker she typed out a letter stating who had the children and the break downs for the year showing we were the ones that had the right to claiming them. We then sent in the letter with our tax return to IRS. We had our refund in about 8 weeks. No problems easy as pie. I was and am still ticked about it though.

[brittysmom]

I was told at a Foster Support meeting that the best thing you can do is HURRY UP AND FILE the same day you receive your w2's in the mail.

So that's what I did, I had never done taxes before, but I did them myself with TurboTax as soon as the last one got here.
It was pretty easy, although I did have to make a couple of Help calls to my tax-savvy friend. But all in all, it was very easy, even with self employment, sales tax, and other complications. I e-filed and got our refund in a couple of weeks.
And I also got a few extra brownie points from Dear Hubby, because he didn't have to mess with it.

If you do get caught in the "already claimed" trap, it does all get straightened out eventually. The IRS will take care of it, but it is a big hassle to have to wait it out. So all I can say is HURRY.

HTH,
K

[skristiesan2]

THe same thing happened to us this year when we e-filed. But we adopted our fk's in 2006. I called the IRS and they said to paper file and go ahead and send in our proof with our taxes. She also told us to file a fraud report with the irs. Which we did. The IRS received our taxes on Feb. 20th thru the mail and our refund was deposited March 20th. So it only took 4 weeks from the time they received it. We now have to go a change our kids ss#'s. Fun!

[millie58]

You have to send paperwork to the IRS stating when you got her. A placement letter from his/her cw should do it. Mine was adopted and it was rejected. But I had the adoption certificate as proof.

[henderfive]

I went to the local S.S. office with the letter from the courtthat the child was in my care, like the one you use for medical treatment and they gave me a copy of his s.s# right there.
Henderfive