The reject code IND-116-02 indicates that one or more of the dependents listed on your tax document is not of the required age to be claimed as a dependent. To be claimed as a dependent, the dependent must be under 18 years of age on December 31 of the applicable tax year.
If you received the IND-116-02 code, it means you need to review your tax return and make sure all listed dependents meet this age requirement. If one or more of your dependents is over 18, you cannot include them as dependents on your tax return.
Other reject codes that you might face concerning the age of the dependent are the following:
- SEIC-F1040 — date of birth does not match with IRS.
- IND-116-01 — dependent is over the age of 17.
How do I Fix Reject Code IND -116-02 Electronically?
If you are filing your returns via any application, you must review all information that leads to the reject code IND -116-02. E.g.
- In the dependent detail check if eligible for the child tax credit is checked or not.
- After that, see if the dependent is under 17.
- If there are several dependents, you must review the description field.
- A number will be shown in brackets. This number mentions which of the dependents is causing the IND-116-02 error.
- Confirm that the name and SSN of the dependent are entered correctly.
- Validate that the dependent’s date of birth is correct.
- Check for the relationship type. It can be the following
- Son
- Daughter
- Grandchild
- Sister
- Brother
- Niece
- Nephew
- Foster child
- Stepchild
- Stepbrother
- Stepsister
- Half brother
- Half-sister.
If you have followed the steps above and believe this message was received in error with the rejection code IND -116-02, contact the Social Security Administration to verify the accuracy of their data. It usually takes four weeks for updated data to be sent to IRS. However, if you do not wish to wait, you may submit a paper tax document by mail.
In some cases, you might receive the reject code IND-116-02 by mistake. If this is the case then you might want to recheck all the information concerning your dependent and validate all information. However, if the issue persists you can contact the IRS or SSA for further help.
Frequently Asked Questions
The reject code IND-116-02 means that one or more dependents listed on your tax return do not meet the age requirement to be claimed.
Dependents must be under the age of 18 as of December 31st of the tax year in question.
No, you cannot claim your adult child.
Yes, as long as they were under 18 on December 31st.
Yes, you can claim your stepchild as a dependent if they meet the eligibility requirements, including the age requirement.
Review your tax return to ensure that all listed dependents meet the age requirement. Correct any errors and resubmit your tax return.
Yes, you could be subject to penalties and interest if you claimed an ineligible dependent on your tax return.
Yes, you can claim a grandchild as a dependent.
It depends on several factors, such as the sibling’s income, support, and living situation.
