My ex husband claimed Head of Household but I'm the legal HOH. What do i do?

brimich28 — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 02:19:43 GMT

My ex-husband claimed Head of Household although I'm the legal HOH. He already e-filed through Turbo Tax. I think if I also e-file as HOH, mine will be denied because of our sons social already being used? What should I do?

File as normal. If your e-file is rejected. Print, sign a...

Hal_Al — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 02:19:46 GMT

File as normal. If your e-file is rejected. Print, sign and mail your return. The IRS will process your refund normally (4-6 weeks). Up to a year late, both you and your ex will get letters from the IRS requiring you to prove your case.

The custodial parent* has first priority on claiming the children on her taxes; regardless of the amount of support provided by the non-custodial parent. The non-custodial parent can only claim the child as a dependent if the custodial parent gives permission (on form 8332) or if it's spelled out in a pre 2009 divorce decree. Even if a divorce decree, dated after 2008, gives the non-custodial parent the right to claim the child, he must still get form 8332 from the custodial parent. A properly worded decree should require her to provide that form.

There is a way to split the tax benefits. For future negotiations with the other parent (and maybe even for this year) the following info may be of use:

There is a special rule in the case of divorced & separated (including never married) parents. When the non-custodial parent is claiming the child as a dependent/exemption/child tax credit; the custodial parent is still allowed to claim the same child for Earned Income Credit, Head of Household filing status, and day care credit. This "splitting of the child" is not available to parents who lived together at any time during the last 6 months of the year; then only one of you can claim the child for any tax reasons. The tax benefits may not be split in any other manner.

Note in particular that the non-custodial parent can never claim the Earned Income Credit, Head of Household filing status or the day care credit, based on that child, even when the custodial parent has released the exemption to him.

So, it's good idea to let the other parent know that you will be claiming those items, as many first time divorced parents are not aware of this rule and may try to claim those items, which will cause the IRS to send out letters.

*For tax purposes, there is no such thing as joint custody, regardless of what your legal agreement says. The requirement, to be custodial parent, is that the child live with you MORE than 50% of the time. One of you has to be the custodial parent and the other the non-custodial parent.

topic My ex husband claimed Head of Household but I'm the legal HOH. What do i do? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

My ex husband claimed Head of Household but I'm the legal HOH. What do i do?

File as normal. If your e-file is rejected. Print, sign a...