We are married but did not live together in 2016. In 2015 my wife filed HOH. This year I earned more, I was told to file Marri filing Joint how do I enter our children?

[froggzzz]

They lived with her, I paid child support, etc.  If I put them in as living with her more than half of the year it still is showing that we get the EITC and child tax credit. How do I answer the questions since it is a joint return, do I answer according to my own or hers or both together?

[becky79]

Filing as married filing jointly means that both of you are only filing this one tax return. Therefore you would say the dependents lived with you (referring to both you and your spouse since it's a joint return) as all year since they were with you or mom. If filing a joint return your wife can not file a separate return.

[froggzzz]

she did not make any money, so the alternative, her not filing and I file married filing separately, since the kids live with her more, I only get the dependent deduction. I just wanted to make sure that filing jointly would not be frowned upon

[becky79]

No your completely ok to file jointly and claim all your kids. Just be sure that she's on board and isn't filing a separate return.

[Phillip1 · Accepted solution]

Enter the months they live with her on your joint return. Since you are filing a joint return, you will still claim all of the child tax benefits on your return. Since both of you are signing the return, her dependents are claimed with your return.