Is that rugrat yours?

[SouthernJet]

Big families must verify dependents

Big families must now back up their claims of dependents on state taxes

BY MARK JOHNSON - STAFF WRITER

Published: Thu, Jun. 18, 2009 04:59AMModified Thu, Jun. 18, 2009 05:08AM

The N.C. Department of Revenue dispatched letters this year to 6,700 North Carolina taxpayers who claimed a large number of dependents, at least five children, on their taxes.

The tax agency's message was simple: Prove it.

"They wanted to see birth certificates, Social Security cards for all of our children, proof that we were married, our federal tax return," said Cynthia Leugers, a mother of nine in Indian Trail, near Charlotte. "I had to write up a statement saying that they were all our natural children, that they lived at our address in 2008."

Christa and Toby Wells help get their five children ready to head for the pool. From the left: Aidan, 11; Rowan, 5; Samuel, 3; Sofia, 8; and Zach, 5. The state is requiring families with five or more children to furnish documentary evidence.

The new requirement has sent families scrounging through file drawers, requesting copies of documents from government agencies and typing out descriptions of their immediate family tree. The Revenue Department is verifying dependents of more taxpayers and doing it before refund checks go out, instead of auditing them afterward. Refund checks have been delayed in many cases.

"They've never asked us for anything before," said Christa Wells, of Raleigh, who has five children, including a boy adopted from Guatemala in 2004. "We were wondering if this had something to do with our son's adoption."

Revenue Department officials said there was nothing new about their effort to prevent fraudulent or mistaken claims for tax exemptions. What has changed is the timing and method.

[Thai Jet]

Big families must verify dependents

Big families must now back up their claims of dependents on state taxes

BY MARK JOHNSON - STAFF WRITER

Published: Thu, Jun. 18, 2009 04:59AMModified Thu, Jun. 18, 2009 05:08AM

The N.C. Department of Revenue dispatched letters this year to 6,700 North Carolina taxpayers who claimed a large number of dependents, at least five children, on their taxes.

The tax agency's message was simple: Prove it.

"They wanted to see birth certificates, Social Security cards for all of our children, proof that we were married, our federal tax return," said Cynthia Leugers, a mother of nine in Indian Trail, near Charlotte. "I had to write up a statement saying that they were all our natural children, that they lived at our address in 2008."

Christa and Toby Wells help get their five children ready to head for the pool. From the left: Aidan, 11; Rowan, 5; Samuel, 3; Sofia, 8; and Zach, 5. The state is requiring families with five or more children to furnish documentary evidence.

The new requirement has sent families scrounging through file drawers, requesting copies of documents from government agencies and typing out descriptions of their immediate family tree. The Revenue Department is verifying dependents of more taxpayers and doing it before refund checks go out, instead of auditing them afterward. Refund checks have been delayed in many cases.

"They've never asked us for anything before," said Christa Wells, of Raleigh, who has five children, including a boy adopted from Guatemala in 2004. "We were wondering if this had something to do with our son's adoption."

Revenue Department officials said there was nothing new about their effort to prevent fraudulent or mistaken claims for tax exemptions. What has changed is the timing and method.

I don't blame the state at all. BFD if you say you have 8 kids , just prove it. I'm willing to bet that thousands of kids will suddenly "disappear " off the tax forms.