If you did not live together then it is not possible to live 12 months with both. To falsely claiming that you bot did to get a larger refund would be tax fraud.
There is no such thing in the Federal tax law as 50/50, split, or joint custody. The IRS only recognizes physical custody (which parent the child lived with the greater part, but over half, of the tax year. That parent is the custodial parent; the other parent is the noncustodial parent.)
Who can claim the exemption and credits depends on who is the custodial parent. (By the IRS definition of custodial parent for tax purposes - this is not the same as the legal custody that a court might grant.).
The test that the IRS uses to determine the custodial parent is where the child lived for more than 1/2 (or greater part) of the year.
The IRS will go so far as to require counting the nights spend in each household - that person is the custodial parent for tax purposes (if exactly equal and more than 183 days - The custodial parent is the parent with the highest AGI, if less than 183 days then neither parent has custody so the child cannot be claimed by either parent). And yes they are that picky.
See Custodial parent and noncustodial parent in Pub 501
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p501#en_US_2018_publink1000220906
Only the Custodial parent can claim: (Child would be listed as non-dependent EIC & CC only)
-Head of Household
-The Earned Income Credit
-The Child and Dependent Care Credit
-The Health Coverage Tax Credit
The non custodial parent can only claim: (Child would be listed as dependent)
- The child as a dependent
- The Child Tax Credit or credit for other dependents
But only if specifically specified in a pre-2009 divorce decree, separation agreement or the custodial spouse releases the exemption with a signed 8332 form - after 2009 the IRS only accepts a signed 8332 form that must be attached to the non-custodial parents tax return.
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If you are the custodial parent where the child physically lived for more than half the year (183 nights) then:
When you enter the dependent, you say that he/she is "Your child" (not you and your spouse if remarried),
he/she lived with you the whole year,
“no” the child did not pay more than half of his/her own support,
"yes", you have a custody agreement,
and "yes", the other parent is claiming this year.
That will give you the EIC, Child Care Credit and Head of Household filing status if you otherwise qualify.
The child would be listed as "non-dependent EIC & Dependent Care only".
The other (non-custodial) parent can claim the child’s exemption and child tax credit only and needs a signed 8332 form to do so.
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If you are the non-custodial parent where the child did not physically live for more than half the year (183 nights) then:
When you enter the dependent, you say that he is "Your child" (not you and new spouse if remarried),
He/she lived with you 0-5 months (less then 6 months),
“no” the child did not pay more than half of his/her own support,
"yes", you have a custody agreement, and
"yes” I am claiming this year.
That will give you the child as a dependent, and child tax credit.
The EIC, and Child Care Credits can only be claimed by the parent where the child actually lived.
**Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**
