How to claim my children as dependents.

[highreturn]

My ex-wife and I have divorce papers stating that every other year we are to claim our children as dependents.  This year is my turn for the first time and I'm not sure what I am allowed to claim. Do I just claim them as dependents and the child tax credit?

[bwa · Accepted solution]

I'm assuming that you are the non-custodial parent (the parent that the children lived with for less than 184 days in 2016.)  If so, you can claim their exemption and the child tax credit.

You cannot claim EIC, Head of Household Rates or the Child and Dependent Care Credit.