Question:   My daughter was born at the end of the year. We are still waiting for a social security number. Can I send in my return and later supply the social security number for her?

Answer:   If you file your return claiming your daughter as a dependent and do not provide her social security number on the return, the dependency exemption will be disallowed.

You have two options.

You could file your income tax return without claiming your daughter as a dependent.

• After you receive her social security number, you could then amend your return on Form 1040X (PDF), Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
• You have three years from the later of the due date of the return or from the date the return was filed to amend the return.

The other option is to file a Form 4868 (PDF), Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

• This would give you an additional six months to file your return; by then you should have your daughter's social security number.