Pseudo Social Security Number?
January 25, 2011 7:40 PM Subscribe
We have a foster daughter who we would like to claim as a dependent. I have a question about her Social Security Number and taxes.
She is a year old (and awesome), and we've been requesting a social security card for her through the county since she came to us 9 months ago. We still have not received it, so we are unable to claim her as a dependent on our tax forms. We were able to figure out that one of the government agencies that she receives services from uses what they refer to as a "pseudo" social security number for her, and they passed that on to us. However, although it has the right number of characters, it ends with a p, so it is not recognized by the tax software that we use. Is it correct to assume that this is because it is not sufficient, and we'll need to continue waiting for the real thing?
She is a year old (and awesome), and we've been requesting a social security card for her through the county since she came to us 9 months ago. We still have not received it, so we are unable to claim her as a dependent on our tax forms. We were able to figure out that one of the government agencies that she receives services from uses what they refer to as a "pseudo" social security number for her, and they passed that on to us. However, although it has the right number of characters, it ends with a p, so it is not recognized by the tax software that we use. Is it correct to assume that this is because it is not sufficient, and we'll need to continue waiting for the real thing?
You'll definitely need a official Taxpayer Identification Number of some sort, which would consist of all numbers. Here's a rundown of the different types we offer at the IRS.
Depending on your situation, you may or may not want to apply for an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number.
Best of luck!
posted by texano at 8:14 PM on January 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
Depending on your situation, you may or may not want to apply for an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number.
Best of luck!
posted by texano at 8:14 PM on January 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Are you in the process of adopting her?
We're doing everythign we can to do so, but it's still an open question at this point how far we'll be able to go.
Here's a rundown of the different types we offer at the IRS.
Cool, thanks!
posted by SpacemanStix at 9:45 PM on January 25, 2011
We're doing everythign we can to do so, but it's still an open question at this point how far we'll be able to go.
Here's a rundown of the different types we offer at the IRS.
Cool, thanks!
posted by SpacemanStix at 9:45 PM on January 25, 2011
Best answer: Contact your FD's caseworker directly and ask her to give you the number. You don't need the actual social security card, you just need the number and your CW can give you that over the phone. Some CWs will try to discourage foster parents from claiming the children on their taxes. This is wise if she's not been with you long. However, you note that she's been with you for 9 months which means that she's been with you the largest portion of the year that she's been with anyone.
Now, that being said , when you claim her (and you should), expect to have issues with your filing and expect that her birth family will also try to claim her on their taxes. If they have already done so, you won't be able to file electronically. You'll have to actually mail in your taxes and wait a little longer for your return. You may also get a letter from the IRS saying something to the effect of "this child has been claimed twice. One of you is mistaken. Fix your filings." If this happens and if you need to respond to the IRS, you will need to provide documentation proving that she's been in your care for the largest part of the year. So, make sure you know where your documentation from DCFS/CPS is placing her with you. You signed a contract or some similar document when she was placed with you. Also if the agency gave you a form stipulating that she's in your care and you can seek medical care for her, that form is also usually dated to when she was placed with you. If you've saved any receipts for clothing purchases, medicine printouts from the pharmacy, receipts or reports from daycare or any other form of documentation, you'll want to know where all that is if you have to provide proof to the IRS that you are legally entitled to claim her on your taxes.
We're also hounding our CW for our little one's SSN. Kiddo has been with us for about 17 months now. We couldn't claim on last years taxes but we are this year. Because of kiddo's SSN already being used by the birth father illegally, we expect to have to paper file this year. TPR has been granted and we're moving to finalize the adoption. When we do so, we'll be changing kiddo's name in addition to getting a new SSN issued.
Memail me if I can be of any additional help. Good luck!
posted by onhazier at 5:59 AM on January 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Now, that being said , when you claim her (and you should), expect to have issues with your filing and expect that her birth family will also try to claim her on their taxes. If they have already done so, you won't be able to file electronically. You'll have to actually mail in your taxes and wait a little longer for your return. You may also get a letter from the IRS saying something to the effect of "this child has been claimed twice. One of you is mistaken. Fix your filings." If this happens and if you need to respond to the IRS, you will need to provide documentation proving that she's been in your care for the largest part of the year. So, make sure you know where your documentation from DCFS/CPS is placing her with you. You signed a contract or some similar document when she was placed with you. Also if the agency gave you a form stipulating that she's in your care and you can seek medical care for her, that form is also usually dated to when she was placed with you. If you've saved any receipts for clothing purchases, medicine printouts from the pharmacy, receipts or reports from daycare or any other form of documentation, you'll want to know where all that is if you have to provide proof to the IRS that you are legally entitled to claim her on your taxes.
We're also hounding our CW for our little one's SSN. Kiddo has been with us for about 17 months now. We couldn't claim on last years taxes but we are this year. Because of kiddo's SSN already being used by the birth father illegally, we expect to have to paper file this year. TPR has been granted and we're moving to finalize the adoption. When we do so, we'll be changing kiddo's name in addition to getting a new SSN issued.
Memail me if I can be of any additional help. Good luck!
posted by onhazier at 5:59 AM on January 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Excellent. Thanks for the good advice.
I hope everything works out for you!
posted by SpacemanStix at 11:46 AM on January 26, 2011
I hope everything works out for you!
posted by SpacemanStix at 11:46 AM on January 26, 2011
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posted by desjardins at 8:07 PM on January 25, 2011