Why would the IRS ask for birth certificates or even audit a small tax return?
My daughter and her boyfriend live together, and he is the sole earner in the home. They each have a kid plus 1 together. H&R Block told them that he didn't make enough to do his return and now the IRS wants birth certificates. I'm a retired accountant and I've never heard of such a thing!
They live in a different city than me and their cars broke down otherwise I would have done this for them. This is bugging me.
united-states income-tax irs dependents audit
edited 8 hours ago
Ben Miller
79.6k19218286
asked 9 hours ago
JenJen
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add a comment |
My daughter and her boyfriend live together, and he is the sole earner in the home. They each have a kid plus 1 together. H&R Block told them that he didn't make enough to do his return and now the IRS wants birth certificates. I'm a retired accountant and I've never heard of such a thing!
They live in a different city than me and their cars broke down otherwise I would have done this for them. This is bugging me.
united-states income-tax irs dependents audit
edited 8 hours ago
Ben Miller
79.6k19218286
asked 9 hours ago
JenJen
5413
New contributor
Jen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
3
Hi. It is not clear what you are asking and the title does not make sense. I assume "they" is the IRS. What does not make sense: 1040EZ cannot be used if the filer is claiming dependents.
– Damila
9 hours ago
6
Jen - The H&R Block anecdote is off on a tangent that may be making the question a bit unclear. Is that really the question, or are you asking why the IRS would like to see birth certificates?
– JoeTaxpayer♦
9 hours ago
5
To the vote-to-close members - if the question is edited down to ask why the IRS requires birth certs for a low income return, it might be a decent question, in light of the answer posted by Hart. Patience.
– JoeTaxpayer♦
8 hours ago
Are you just complaining here? The reality is that unless your friend supplies the examiner with birth certificates proving that he has children, then the IRS is going to deny your friend's attempt to claim child tax credits and assess additional taxes and penalties. If you are an accountant, you should know that anybody who claims a credit or deduction better be prepared to prove that they are entitled to that deduction.
– Five Bagger
8 mins ago
add a comment |
My daughter and her boyfriend live together, and he is the sole earner in the home. They each have a kid plus 1 together. H&R Block told them that he didn't make enough to do his return and now the IRS wants birth certificates. I'm a retired accountant and I've never heard of such a thing!
They live in a different city than me and their cars broke down otherwise I would have done this for them. This is bugging me.
united-states income-tax irs dependents audit
edited 8 hours ago
Ben Miller
79.6k19218286
asked 9 hours ago
JenJen
5413
New contributor
Jen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
My daughter and her boyfriend live together, and he is the sole earner in the home. They each have a kid plus 1 together. H&R Block told them that he didn't make enough to do his return and now the IRS wants birth certificates. I'm a retired accountant and I've never heard of such a thing!
They live in a different city than me and their cars broke down otherwise I would have done this for them. This is bugging me.
united-states income-tax irs dependents audit
united-states income-tax irs dependents audit
edited 8 hours ago
Ben Miller
79.6k19218286
asked 9 hours ago
JenJen
5413
New contributor
Jen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 8 hours ago
Ben Miller
79.6k19218286
asked 9 hours ago
JenJen
5413
New contributor
Jen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 8 hours ago
Ben Miller
79.6k19218286
edited 8 hours ago
Ben Miller
79.6k19218286
edited 8 hours ago
Ben Miller
79.6k19218286
79.6k19218286
asked 9 hours ago
JenJen
5413
New contributor
Jen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 9 hours ago
JenJen
5413
asked 9 hours ago
JenJen
5413
5413
New contributor
Jen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Jen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Jen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
3
Hi. It is not clear what you are asking and the title does not make sense. I assume "they" is the IRS. What does not make sense: 1040EZ cannot be used if the filer is claiming dependents.
– Damila
9 hours ago
6
Jen - The H&R Block anecdote is off on a tangent that may be making the question a bit unclear. Is that really the question, or are you asking why the IRS would like to see birth certificates?
– JoeTaxpayer♦
9 hours ago
5
To the vote-to-close members - if the question is edited down to ask why the IRS requires birth certs for a low income return, it might be a decent question, in light of the answer posted by Hart. Patience.
– JoeTaxpayer♦
8 hours ago
Are you just complaining here? The reality is that unless your friend supplies the examiner with birth certificates proving that he has children, then the IRS is going to deny your friend's attempt to claim child tax credits and assess additional taxes and penalties. If you are an accountant, you should know that anybody who claims a credit or deduction better be prepared to prove that they are entitled to that deduction.
– Five Bagger
8 mins ago
add a comment |
3
Hi. It is not clear what you are asking and the title does not make sense. I assume "they" is the IRS. What does not make sense: 1040EZ cannot be used if the filer is claiming dependents.
– Damila
9 hours ago
6
Jen - The H&R Block anecdote is off on a tangent that may be making the question a bit unclear. Is that really the question, or are you asking why the IRS would like to see birth certificates?
– JoeTaxpayer♦
9 hours ago
5
To the vote-to-close members - if the question is edited down to ask why the IRS requires birth certs for a low income return, it might be a decent question, in light of the answer posted by Hart. Patience.
– JoeTaxpayer♦
8 hours ago
Are you just complaining here? The reality is that unless your friend supplies the examiner with birth certificates proving that he has children, then the IRS is going to deny your friend's attempt to claim child tax credits and assess additional taxes and penalties. If you are an accountant, you should know that anybody who claims a credit or deduction better be prepared to prove that they are entitled to that deduction.
– Five Bagger
8 mins ago
3
3
Hi. It is not clear what you are asking and the title does not make sense. I assume "they" is the IRS. What does not make sense: 1040EZ cannot be used if the filer is claiming dependents.
– Damila
9 hours ago
Hi. It is not clear what you are asking and the title does not make sense. I assume "they" is the IRS. What does not make sense: 1040EZ cannot be used if the filer is claiming dependents.
– Damila
9 hours ago
6
6
Jen - The H&R Block anecdote is off on a tangent that may be making the question a bit unclear. Is that really the question, or are you asking why the IRS would like to see birth certificates?
– JoeTaxpayer♦
9 hours ago
Jen - The H&R Block anecdote is off on a tangent that may be making the question a bit unclear. Is that really the question, or are you asking why the IRS would like to see birth certificates?
– JoeTaxpayer♦
9 hours ago
5
5
To the vote-to-close members - if the question is edited down to ask why the IRS requires birth certs for a low income return, it might be a decent question, in light of the answer posted by Hart. Patience.
– JoeTaxpayer♦
8 hours ago
To the vote-to-close members - if the question is edited down to ask why the IRS requires birth certs for a low income return, it might be a decent question, in light of the answer posted by Hart. Patience.
– JoeTaxpayer♦
8 hours ago
Are you just complaining here? The reality is that unless your friend supplies the examiner with birth certificates proving that he has children, then the IRS is going to deny your friend's attempt to claim child tax credits and assess additional taxes and penalties. If you are an accountant, you should know that anybody who claims a credit or deduction better be prepared to prove that they are entitled to that deduction.
– Five Bagger
8 mins ago
Are you just complaining here? The reality is that unless your friend supplies the examiner with birth certificates proving that he has children, then the IRS is going to deny your friend's attempt to claim child tax credits and assess additional taxes and penalties. If you are an accountant, you should know that anybody who claims a credit or deduction better be prepared to prove that they are entitled to that deduction.
– Five Bagger
8 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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For people that don't earn very much, the largest single financial event of the year is often getting a large tax refund thanks to the Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit. These refundable credits can result in people getting refunds for thousands more than what they had withheld over the year. This makes fraudulently claiming dependents potentially lucrative. The IRS just wants documentation that supports what is being claimed on the tax return.
A birth certificate is a direct way to prove a child is yours, so it is not an uncommon document to provide.
answered 9 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
31.3k47289
22
The family configuration described also makes it possible that someone else has claimed one of the children listed on the return as a dependent.
– tbrookside
8 hours ago
4
@tbrookside Very true, there are many split couples that race to file claiming the dependents so the other parent can't. However, usually a birth certificate isn't going to resolve anything in those situations since without a legal agreement both parents have a right to claim the child even though only one of them can. It gets messy for sure.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
10
From the IRS Web Site: If we pick your EITC claim for an audit based on the child you claim, we ask for proof that the child is your qualifying child ... You need to send proof the child is related to you: ... Birth certificates or other official documents of birth that show you are related to the child,
– D Stanley
7 hours ago
3
@HartCO: In fact only one of them has the right and the law is clear who; the person who provided the majority of the person's support.
– Joshua
7 hours ago
1
@Joshua That's true, I should have said that either of them could have the right to claim the child, the IRS has no idea which one. Some divorced parents alternate each year, some determine who will get the bigger benefit from claiming. In any case, birth certificate doesn't help with which parent should claim, but rather which people could have the right to claim the dependent.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
protected by JoeTaxpayer♦ 8 hours ago
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
For people that don't earn very much, the largest single financial event of the year is often getting a large tax refund thanks to the Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit. These refundable credits can result in people getting refunds for thousands more than what they had withheld over the year. This makes fraudulently claiming dependents potentially lucrative. The IRS just wants documentation that supports what is being claimed on the tax return.
A birth certificate is a direct way to prove a child is yours, so it is not an uncommon document to provide.
answered 9 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
31.3k47289
22
The family configuration described also makes it possible that someone else has claimed one of the children listed on the return as a dependent.
– tbrookside
8 hours ago
4
@tbrookside Very true, there are many split couples that race to file claiming the dependents so the other parent can't. However, usually a birth certificate isn't going to resolve anything in those situations since without a legal agreement both parents have a right to claim the child even though only one of them can. It gets messy for sure.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
10
From the IRS Web Site: If we pick your EITC claim for an audit based on the child you claim, we ask for proof that the child is your qualifying child ... You need to send proof the child is related to you: ... Birth certificates or other official documents of birth that show you are related to the child,
– D Stanley
7 hours ago
3
@HartCO: In fact only one of them has the right and the law is clear who; the person who provided the majority of the person's support.
– Joshua
7 hours ago
1
@Joshua That's true, I should have said that either of them could have the right to claim the child, the IRS has no idea which one. Some divorced parents alternate each year, some determine who will get the bigger benefit from claiming. In any case, birth certificate doesn't help with which parent should claim, but rather which people could have the right to claim the dependent.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
For people that don't earn very much, the largest single financial event of the year is often getting a large tax refund thanks to the Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit. These refundable credits can result in people getting refunds for thousands more than what they had withheld over the year. This makes fraudulently claiming dependents potentially lucrative. The IRS just wants documentation that supports what is being claimed on the tax return.
A birth certificate is a direct way to prove a child is yours, so it is not an uncommon document to provide.
answered 9 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
31.3k47289
22
The family configuration described also makes it possible that someone else has claimed one of the children listed on the return as a dependent.
– tbrookside
8 hours ago
4
@tbrookside Very true, there are many split couples that race to file claiming the dependents so the other parent can't. However, usually a birth certificate isn't going to resolve anything in those situations since without a legal agreement both parents have a right to claim the child even though only one of them can. It gets messy for sure.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
10
From the IRS Web Site: If we pick your EITC claim for an audit based on the child you claim, we ask for proof that the child is your qualifying child ... You need to send proof the child is related to you: ... Birth certificates or other official documents of birth that show you are related to the child,
– D Stanley
7 hours ago
3
@HartCO: In fact only one of them has the right and the law is clear who; the person who provided the majority of the person's support.
– Joshua
7 hours ago
1
@Joshua That's true, I should have said that either of them could have the right to claim the child, the IRS has no idea which one. Some divorced parents alternate each year, some determine who will get the bigger benefit from claiming. In any case, birth certificate doesn't help with which parent should claim, but rather which people could have the right to claim the dependent.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
For people that don't earn very much, the largest single financial event of the year is often getting a large tax refund thanks to the Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit. These refundable credits can result in people getting refunds for thousands more than what they had withheld over the year. This makes fraudulently claiming dependents potentially lucrative. The IRS just wants documentation that supports what is being claimed on the tax return.
A birth certificate is a direct way to prove a child is yours, so it is not an uncommon document to provide.
answered 9 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
31.3k47289
For people that don't earn very much, the largest single financial event of the year is often getting a large tax refund thanks to the Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit. These refundable credits can result in people getting refunds for thousands more than what they had withheld over the year. This makes fraudulently claiming dependents potentially lucrative. The IRS just wants documentation that supports what is being claimed on the tax return.
A birth certificate is a direct way to prove a child is yours, so it is not an uncommon document to provide.
answered 9 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
31.3k47289
edited 7 hours ago
answered 9 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
31.3k47289
answered 9 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
31.3k47289
answered 9 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
31.3k47289
31.3k47289
22
The family configuration described also makes it possible that someone else has claimed one of the children listed on the return as a dependent.
– tbrookside
8 hours ago
4
@tbrookside Very true, there are many split couples that race to file claiming the dependents so the other parent can't. However, usually a birth certificate isn't going to resolve anything in those situations since without a legal agreement both parents have a right to claim the child even though only one of them can. It gets messy for sure.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
10
From the IRS Web Site: If we pick your EITC claim for an audit based on the child you claim, we ask for proof that the child is your qualifying child ... You need to send proof the child is related to you: ... Birth certificates or other official documents of birth that show you are related to the child,
– D Stanley
7 hours ago
3
@HartCO: In fact only one of them has the right and the law is clear who; the person who provided the majority of the person's support.
– Joshua
7 hours ago
1
@Joshua That's true, I should have said that either of them could have the right to claim the child, the IRS has no idea which one. Some divorced parents alternate each year, some determine who will get the bigger benefit from claiming. In any case, birth certificate doesn't help with which parent should claim, but rather which people could have the right to claim the dependent.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
22
The family configuration described also makes it possible that someone else has claimed one of the children listed on the return as a dependent.
– tbrookside
8 hours ago
4
@tbrookside Very true, there are many split couples that race to file claiming the dependents so the other parent can't. However, usually a birth certificate isn't going to resolve anything in those situations since without a legal agreement both parents have a right to claim the child even though only one of them can. It gets messy for sure.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
10
From the IRS Web Site: If we pick your EITC claim for an audit based on the child you claim, we ask for proof that the child is your qualifying child ... You need to send proof the child is related to you: ... Birth certificates or other official documents of birth that show you are related to the child,
– D Stanley
7 hours ago
3
@HartCO: In fact only one of them has the right and the law is clear who; the person who provided the majority of the person's support.
– Joshua
7 hours ago
1
@Joshua That's true, I should have said that either of them could have the right to claim the child, the IRS has no idea which one. Some divorced parents alternate each year, some determine who will get the bigger benefit from claiming. In any case, birth certificate doesn't help with which parent should claim, but rather which people could have the right to claim the dependent.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
22
22
The family configuration described also makes it possible that someone else has claimed one of the children listed on the return as a dependent.
– tbrookside
8 hours ago
The family configuration described also makes it possible that someone else has claimed one of the children listed on the return as a dependent.
– tbrookside
8 hours ago
4
4
@tbrookside Very true, there are many split couples that race to file claiming the dependents so the other parent can't. However, usually a birth certificate isn't going to resolve anything in those situations since without a legal agreement both parents have a right to claim the child even though only one of them can. It gets messy for sure.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
@tbrookside Very true, there are many split couples that race to file claiming the dependents so the other parent can't. However, usually a birth certificate isn't going to resolve anything in those situations since without a legal agreement both parents have a right to claim the child even though only one of them can. It gets messy for sure.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
10
10
From the IRS Web Site: If we pick your EITC claim for an audit based on the child you claim, we ask for proof that the child is your qualifying child ... You need to send proof the child is related to you: ... Birth certificates or other official documents of birth that show you are related to the child,
– D Stanley
7 hours ago
From the IRS Web Site: If we pick your EITC claim for an audit based on the child you claim, we ask for proof that the child is your qualifying child ... You need to send proof the child is related to you: ... Birth certificates or other official documents of birth that show you are related to the child,
– D Stanley
7 hours ago
3
3
@HartCO: In fact only one of them has the right and the law is clear who; the person who provided the majority of the person's support.
– Joshua
7 hours ago
@HartCO: In fact only one of them has the right and the law is clear who; the person who provided the majority of the person's support.
– Joshua
7 hours ago
1
1
@Joshua That's true, I should have said that either of them could have the right to claim the child, the IRS has no idea which one. Some divorced parents alternate each year, some determine who will get the bigger benefit from claiming. In any case, birth certificate doesn't help with which parent should claim, but rather which people could have the right to claim the dependent.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
@Joshua That's true, I should have said that either of them could have the right to claim the child, the IRS has no idea which one. Some divorced parents alternate each year, some determine who will get the bigger benefit from claiming. In any case, birth certificate doesn't help with which parent should claim, but rather which people could have the right to claim the dependent.
– Hart CO
7 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
protected by JoeTaxpayer♦ 8 hours ago
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
3
Hi. It is not clear what you are asking and the title does not make sense. I assume "they" is the IRS. What does not make sense: 1040EZ cannot be used if the filer is claiming dependents.
– Damila
9 hours ago
6
Jen - The H&R Block anecdote is off on a tangent that may be making the question a bit unclear. Is that really the question, or are you asking why the IRS would like to see birth certificates?
– JoeTaxpayer♦
9 hours ago
5
To the vote-to-close members - if the question is edited down to ask why the IRS requires birth certs for a low income return, it might be a decent question, in light of the answer posted by Hart. Patience.
– JoeTaxpayer♦
8 hours ago
Are you just complaining here? The reality is that unless your friend supplies the examiner with birth certificates proving that he has children, then the IRS is going to deny your friend's attempt to claim child tax credits and assess additional taxes and penalties. If you are an accountant, you should know that anybody who claims a credit or deduction better be prepared to prove that they are entitled to that deduction.
– Five Bagger
8 mins ago