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I live abroad and my child was born 5 years ago, but I did not get him a SSN until this year, now I haven't filed tax returns for the past 5 years, my question is can I claim him as a dependent for the all the years even though I got his SSN until this year?

Thanks for any pointers

mhoran_psprep
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Jaime
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2 Answers2

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Look at this answer which is closely related to your question. Run, do not walk, to a tax accountant's office and ask the accountant instead of relying on advice from an Internet forum. You have more problems than just whether or not you can list your child as a dependent on your delinquent returns.

Community
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Dilip Sarwate
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You must have an SSN (for ATIN for certain adoptees, or ITIN for resident aliens) for your son to claim him as a dependent for any particular year. You have until the April 15 deadline obtain an SSN, unless you've filed an extension. (ie. the deadline for a 2011 return was April 15, 2012)

You cannot claim him for previous years.

See IRS Publication 17, Chapter 3.

duffbeer703
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