The IRS won’t tell you who claimed your dependent. Usually, you can identify the possibilities and ask (commonly, a former spouse). But if you don’t suspect anyone who could have claimed the dependent, your dependent may be a victim of tax identity theft. Learn how to handle tax identity theft.

What happens if two people claim a dependent?

The IRS will make a decision that typically awards the claim to the person whose turn it was based on a divorce or custody agreement or based on who had physical placement of the dependent for more time during the tax year. If both parents shared equal time, the IRS awards the claim to the taxpayer with the higher adjusted gross income.

Where can I find out more about someone?

However, if you do manage to find more about someone through an obituary, you can find out everything from when they passed away to when and where they were born, if there are family members still around, what they did for work, where they were living, where they’re buried, and more. You can also find a person through public records.

What to do if someone claims your Social Security number?

If you e-filed a return and it was rejected by the IRS who stated your social security number has been claimed on a tax return for that year, there are some steps to take, depending on the situation. If you know who claimed you: get in contact with them as soon as possible.

What happens if you claim a dependent on your tax return?

You may have tried to file your tax return and got an e-file rejection message. Something like: “A dependent on your return has already been claimed (or claimed themselves) on another return.” Assuming you entered your dependent’s information correctly, it looks like someone else claimed your dependent.

What happens if you are fraudulently claimed as a dependent?

You might be claimed for fraudulent reasons or in an honest mistake. Beverly Bird — a paralegal with over two decades of experience — has been the tax expert for The Balance since 2015, crafting digestible personal finance, legal, and tax content for readers. Bird served as a paralegal on areas of tax law, bankruptcy, and family law.

Do you need a Social Security number to claim a dependent?

For a while, dependents didn’t require a Social Security number at all. The IRS used to take taxpayers’ word for it when they claimed dependents. But in 1987, the rule changed to require taxpayers to give a Social Security number for every dependent they claimed. And suddenly, seven million dependents disappeared.