What if custodial parent refuses to sign form 8332 even though our custody agreement states we alternate years of claiming our child?

[TomK2023]

If the custodial parent has already claimed your child, you'll need to paper-file your return, as the IRS will continue to reject your attempts to e-file.

Ask them to amend their return by removing the dependent. Amendment processing can take weeks or even months, which is why it's best to paper-file your return in the meantime.

If the other taxpayer is uncooperative, the IRS will eventually contact both of you to figure out who gets to claim the dependent. The losing party will then be liable for any additional taxes, penalties, and/or interest as a result of the false claim.