topic My ex claims my son as a dependent but he lives with me all 12 months so I claim him as child tax credit. Turbo tax changed in the last year. What do I do? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

My ex claims my son as a dependent but he lives with me all 12 months so I claim him as child tax credit. Turbo tax changed in the last year. What do I do?

cherrybuttrfly35 — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:53:48 GMT

I don’t know how to move forward with the child tax credit.

Re: My ex claims my son as a dependent but he lives with me all 12 months so I claim him as child tax credit. Turbo tax changed in the last year. What do I do?

xmasbaby0 — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 19:38:28 GMT

Are you the custodial parent? Do you have an agreement with the other parent to allow the other parent to claim them--due to divorce or that you live apart and share custody? Did one of you sign a Form 8332?

If there is a signed 8332 then the custodial parent retains the right to file as Head of Household, get earned income credit and the childcare credit. The non-custodial parent gets the child tax credit for children under the age of 17.

As far as the IRS is concerned, the custodial parent is the one with whom the child spent the most nights during the tax year--at least 183 nights.

If you are a non-married couple who live together then only one of you can claim the child(ren) and the one not claiming the child does not enter anything at all on their tax return about the child.

Re: My ex claims my son as a dependent but he lives with me all 12 months so I claim him as child tax credit. Turbo tax changed in the last year. What do I do?

leeloo — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 19:38:34 GMT

The child tax credit goes with dependency. They are inseparable. As the custodial parent, you are potentially entitled to the Head of Household status, the Earned Income Credit and and the Child Care Credit.