Do i mention a dependent on my taxes even though i am not claiming them to report my expenses this year

lemoncd — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 04:51:26 GMT

How do i report my expenses? Her dad is claiming her because he paid most of her expenses. But i paid for childcare.

That depends on where the father and children live. If y...

Hal_Al — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 04:51:28 GMT

That depends on where the father and children live.

If you and the other parent live together, only one of you can claim the child for any tax benefit. The interview is confusing (it's designed for divorced parents). The second parent should not enter the child, at all.

But, 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.

If you are divorced, or separated, including never married, you will need to include the child. Go through the dependent personal info interview carefully. Your answers need to indicate that the child lives with you but is being claimed by the other parent as a dependent. .

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.

topic Do i mention a dependent on my taxes even though i am not claiming them to report my expenses this year in After you file

Do i mention a dependent on my taxes even though i am not claiming them to report my expenses this year

That depends on where the father and children live. If y...