You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.
If you are married filing separately and both parents live with the child, either parent can claim the child as a dependent and only they get all the child related benefits ... they cannot be split.
If you are unmarried but live together with the child, either one of you can claim the child (or children) as dependents. If the parent who claims the child as a dependent also pays more than half the expenses of keeping up their home, they can file as head of household instead of single, which is slightly more favorable. The other parent should not even list them in Turbotax, because there are some poorly worded questions that confuse some people.
If you are unmarried or never married and live apart and share custody, then:
The parent with whom the child lives more than half the year (184 or more 184 nights for 2016) is automatically entitled to claim the child as a dependent. This is the custodial parent. (IRS determines custody based on where the child lives, not any court order or agreement.) The non-custodial parent is not entitled to claim anything.
However, the custodial parent can sign a release (form 8332) allowing the non-custodial parent to claim the child as a dependent. You can download this form from the IRS web site. The custodial parent signs it and gives it to the non-custodial parent and the non-custodial parent mails it to the IRS after e-filing the rest of their tax return. In this case, the non-custodial parent can claim the dependent exemption and the child tax credit. The non-custodial parent can never claim earned income credit, the dependent care credit (day care credit) or use the child to qualify for head of household status. Those benefits always stay with the custodial parent.
Still have questions?
Make a postAsk questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.
denisejm1202
New Member
trapezewdc
Level 3
jiamaio
New Member
Misshld1131
New Member
ebukenty
New Member
Did the information on this page answer your question?
You have clicked a link to a site outside of the TurboTax Community. By clicking "Continue", you will leave the Community and be taken to that site instead.