Property settlement and alimony are different. If you split up some bills when divorced that is property settlement and does not get entered in the return.
Source of below: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc452
Alimony Requirements
A payment is alimony only if all the following requirements are met:
- The spouses don't file a joint return with each other;
- The payment is in cash (including checks or money orders);
- The payment is to or for a spouse or a former spouse made under a divorce or separation instrument;
- The divorce or separation instrument doesn't designate the payment as not alimony;
- The spouses aren't members of the same household when the payment is made (This requirement applies only if the spouses are legally separated under a decree of divorce or of separate maintenance.);
- There's no liability to make the payment (in cash or property) after the death of the recipient spouse; and
- The payment isn't treated as child support or a property settlement.
