My son is living wtih dad in ca for school, we have a parenting plan, i get to claim him this year. do i claim he lived with me for 7 months for the correct deduction?

[Opus 17 · Accepted solution]

No. Use the correct answer.  You can't claim the child as a dependent unless the other parent gives you a signed form 8332.  (They should do this if there is an agreement to do so.)  When the child lives with the other parent, you can't use the child as a qualifying person for head of household or EIC, those benefits always stay with the parent who had custody more than half the year and can't be transferred, waived or shared.  But you can claim the dependent exemption and the child tax credit if the parent who had custody this year gives you the form 8332.