Question about Dependants and form 8332

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
February 9, 2026
1 reply
1 view

I have an agreement with my child's custodian parent that I can claim my child on my taxes as a dependent even though I only have custody of the child for about 2 months out of the year. I have never had an issue doing this until this year, for some reason there are absolutely NO options that I can select that will allow Turbo Tax to give me the tax break for this dependent. I even have a physical form 8332 (which I have never needed before), but there is nowhere for me to select that I have this form and that I am allowed to claim this dependent. This feels like a glitch or some sort of backend error, and I don't feel like I should have to pay 80$ for the upgraded "Expert Assist" just to be able to get the website to acknowledge something that I have been able to do every year for the past four years. Can anyone help me figure out what I need to do here?

TurboTax Free Edition Online

xmasbaby0

Level 15

If you enter the child as a dependent in MY INFO there is a screen that asks you if you have an agreement with another parent ----click the dependent's name in MY INFO and go back slowly and carefully through all of the screens---read every screen top to bottom.

The custodial parent retains the right to file as head of household, get earned income credit and use the childcare credit.

The non-custodial parent (you) --- with a form 8332--- has the right to claim the child as a dependent for the child tax credit or the credit for other dependents.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

Saavedro88Author

Level 2

Trust me when I say, I have spent HOURS on this page so far trying every combination of checked boxes that I can, and none of them will get me where I need. All I ever get at the end of my attempts is: "It turns out you don't qualify for these credits."