Filers are a couple from Canada, both with SSN's, moved to the US in 2019 and qualify as resident aliens for 2020. They have 2 young children who currently don't have SSN's or ITIN's. Since filers were due a large federal refund, they elected to first e-file without listing the children as dependents, so the refund would be received more quickly. Now they want to amend, so that can they can obtain ITIN's for children and receive the Credit for Other Dependents.
1. The instructions for Form W-7 say, "you may be able to claim the credit for other dependents (ODC) for your child and other qualifying relatives (excluding your spouse) who live in the United States if they obtain an ITIN by the due date of your U.S. federal tax return (including extensions) and meet certain other requirements. If an ITIN is applied for on or before the due date of a 2020 return (including extensions) and the IRS issues an ITIN as a result of the application, the IRS will consider the ITIN as issued on or before the due date of the return."
An extension was not filed before the original return filing. Was the Form 4868 filing necessary to take advantage of the "including extensions" deadline of 10/15? Or are the filers now stuck with the 5/17 deadline for amending?
2. The filers wanted to apply for ITIN's in 2019, but COVID affected their ability to apply on time. Do they have any recourse to amend their 2019 return? I couldn't find any, but wanted to ask in case someone else had any ideas.