I need to file married filing jointly even though I am separated from my wife. How do I enter the alimony and child support in TurboTax?

[Passrider]

When I enter what I pay to her and what she receives from me, they cancel each other out.  Isn't there a way to segregate the tax benefit from paying alimony by the payer from the tax liability of receiving alimony from the recipient?

[Critter]

You cannot deduct alimony paid to a spouse you are still married to when you file a joint return ... you are right they cancel out each other which is why you are not allowed to do so.

[IreneS · Accepted solution]

As you indicated, if you and your wife are filing jointly, you are considered one unit and both the alimony and child support you paid and your wife received cancel each other out.  There is no point in entering the amounts.

For example, let's say you had $100 in the bank ($50 in each of 2 accounts).   You took $25 out of one account and put it in the other (giving you $75 in account #1 and $25 in account #2).  YOU still have $100 in the bank.

The payments will become important when/if you and your wife file separately:

• Alimony you pay your wife is a deduction for you and income for your wife. 
  
• Child support is NOT deductible to you and is NOT income for your wife.