@jaym2 wrote:
Thank You for your earlier response. I completed the IRS interview that concluded that I can claim my Daughter as a Dependent. I understand that I cannot claim the "college education expenses" credit when my status is "Married Filing Seperately". But can I change my status to "head of household" and claim her as my dependent in order to get the credit for college education expenses?
Doubtful that is the correct answer.
There are two types of dependent, qualifying child and qualifying relative. A qualifying child dependent must live in your home more than half the nights of the year. College is usually considered a temporary absence, and a child is usually considered to live "at home" even when they are away at college. But where is the child's regular or permanent home? Probably with the mother, from what you describe.
For a qualifying relative dependent, the person doesn't have to live with you as long as you provide more than half their support, but there is another condition; a qualifying relative dependent can't be a qualifying child dependent of someone else. If your daughter is a qualifying child dependent of the mother, you can't claim her as a qualifying relative dependent.
Even if the child is a qualifying relative dependent of yours, they do not qualify you to file as HOH unless they lived in your home more than half the year.
Unfortunately, you are doing the right thing by supporting your child, but there are no financial rewards in the tax code for you.
