Form 8332 - Filling MFS - Is E-file possible?

[johnmarkplusplus]

My wife is currently in her home country, and our son (a U.S. citizen) is with her.  She has spent more time with our son in 2024. Long story short, I will be filing as Married Filing Separately (MFS), and since I spent less than six months with my son, I cannot claim him as a dependent on my taxes. However, after doing some research, it seems that I may be able to use Form 8332 to claim him.

1) Is there a way to submit Form 8332 via e-file?

2) If I can claim my son using Form 8332, is it possible to claim him even though he has been outside the US for more than 7 months?

3) If I can't e-file Form 8332, do I e-file, and then send Form 8332 via mail to the IRS?

[RobertB4444]

The form 8332 would have to be filed by the custodial parent in order to release the right to claim the child to you.  

You can efile form 8332 with TurboTax.

Here's some information of form 8332.

@johnmarkplusplus 

[johnmarkplusplus]

@RobertB4444 

Thanks for the reply. 

1) Does my wife need to submit Form 8332 or can I submit it for her?
2) I'm not sure if this will make sense or not, but can she file Form 8332 in my turbo tax account and I can submit it that way?

[RobertB4444]

Form 8332 needs to be filed and signed by the custodial parent.  You filing it on her behalf is not really how that is supposed to be done.  She should file it on her own account.

@johnmarkplusplus 

[MauraO]

E-file the return, then, within 3 business days of receiving IRS acknowledgement that your return was accepted, mail form 8332 (completed by your ex) along with form 8453 (search forms in Turbo Tax or online).  

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/family/what-is-form-8332-release-revocation-of-release-of-claim...

If you have custody of your child but want to release the right to claim your child as a dependent to the noncustodial parent, you’ll need to fill out Form 8332. All that’s needed is your child's name, the tax year, your Social Security number, then your signature and date. If you prefer to release your claim for more than one tax year, enter the same information in part two rather than part one. You also use the form to revoke a previous release of a claim.

Once complete, give the form to your child's noncustodial parent, not the IRS. They will file it with their tax return. If you release your claim for multiple tax years, you only need to fill out the form once: the other parent will attach copies of the original to their return each year.