Thanks for the info! A follow up below to clarify some of my questions:
1) there are 365 days in the year which is 182.5 when divided by half. Our marriage separation agreement has us split the children 50/50. That said, unless I literally record each day I have the children, there is no way I know if I have them 183 days in a given year. Can I assume I may NOT file as head of household in this case since it's 50/50 in our agreement, without any form of recording?
3) My mistake. My 2 kids are both under 17. Based on what you said, it does NOT matter if I get the older or younger child based on the year (odd/even as this is how we alternate who gets what child). In all cases I'd get a $2000 credit while the child I get for a given year is under age 17. Maybe I was thinking of the child DEPENDENT EXEMPTION, which I understand was eliminated for now under the tax cuts and job act.
4) Still a bit confused. I have 2 children, each parent only gets 1 of them per year when form 8332 is completed. We alternate between the children each year.
When it comes to aftercare/camp, I pay half of those aftercare fees for BOTH children. My ex pays the other half.
When I do the taxes, in regard to the child and dependent care credit, I'm only allowed to enter the amount I paid for ONE child even though I paid fees for both kids?
