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Level 1
April 16, 2026
Question

how do I enter Alimony paid for a 2023 agreement? I live in CA, and for 2023 agreements, it's deductible in CA.

  • April 16, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 44 views
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1 reply

SharonD007
Level 14
April 16, 2026

Because federal law treats alimony as non-deductible for 2019+ agreements, you must handle this through a California state adjustment: 

 

  1. Complete Federal Taxes: Proceed with your federal return (Form 1040) without claiming an alimony deduction. 
  2. Open CA Return: Navigate to the California state return section in your tax software. 
  3. Find Adjustments: Look for "Adjustments to Income" or "Alternative Cost of Living." 
  4. Enter Alimony Paid: Locate the section for Alimony Paid (often under "Less Common Scenarios" or specific Schedule CA adjustments). 
  5. Input Data: Enter the total amount paid in 2023 and the recipient's SSN
  6. Verify Adjustment: Your tax software should generate a deduction in the "Subtractions" column on Schedule CA (540), reducing your CA taxable income. 
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