Can I claim child support as income?

[caribousun12]

Do I add child support anywhere as income, or since it isn't considered earned income, do I leave it out? 

Thanks! 

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

Child support is not entered on a tax return.  Either child support given or child support received.

[xmasbaby0]

Not sure where you are even entering child support as income since there is no place to enter it on your tax return.  But child-related credits are based ONLY on income you earned from working.  You cannot use child support to inflate your income and increase your child-related credits.   The IRS matches up the income you enter on your return to the income reported by employers.