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Conference moira::parenting

Title:Parenting
Notice:Previous PARENTING version at MOIRA::PARENTING_V3
Moderator:GEMEVN::FAIMANY
Created:Thu Apr 09 1992
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1292
Total number of notes:34837

437.0. "Single parents and filing taxes" by SWAM2::MASSEY_VI (It's all in the cue) Wed Feb 03 1993 11:40

    Hi, it's tax time and I have gotten myself very confused.
    
    I am a single parent and have sole psyical and leagal custody.  My
    X-husband sends child support.  Now, this is the first year that we
    have been divorced and I have no clue how to file the taxes.  I'm sure
    it's fairly simple but I just get so confused.
    
    Ok, my X claims our son for taxes.  In that case, does he claim the
    support he pays as an expence?  If he can't, do I have to claim the
    support at income or just report what I recieved?  Also, the daycare. 
    My X says he claims that on his taxes bacause he send the support.  I
    don't think that is right because his support doesn't come close to
    what I am putting out for his daycare.  Ooo, I'm so confused.  Also,
    the divorce was final in July.  Does that make a difference?
    
    Any advice would be wonderful
    
    Thanks, 
    
    
    Virginia
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437.1how does he figure?GLITTR::WARRENWed Feb 03 1993 11:429
    I am not a tax advisor and you probably should go to one, but my first
    reaction is: Your ex is not paying daycare (is he?); he is paying
    child support.  Of course it's _your_ deduction if you're paying for
    the daycare!
    
    Again, all disclaimers apply...
    
    -Tracy
     
437.2CREDITSSALEM::WHITNEY_AWed Feb 03 1993 12:018
    There are all different kinds of credits you can take for 
    Daycare, Healthcare etc...I don't know if you have to be
    claiming your son or not to get them...
    
    They helped me out a lot last year...
    
    FWIW
    
437.3Get help!AKOCOA::BOLANDWed Feb 03 1993 14:1610
    
    I second .1 suggestion.  Find yourself a tax consultant, it will be
    well worth the money and if you can't afford it every year, at least
    you'll know what your legal tax rights are.  They are very helpful
    in pointing out what was ok one year isn't necessarily ok to claim
    the next.  It sounds as if your ex is incorrect in claiming daycare.
    
    Good luck,
    
    Rose Marie
437.4It's easy!WHEEL::POMEROYWed Feb 03 1993 14:2922
    Hi Vickie,
    
    I'm been a single parent for quite awhile now...  
    
    You DO NOT have to claim the child support received as income.
    He CAN NOT deduct it.
    You CAN deduct for child care because YOU pay it, not him! (that's
      his problem if he gets caught)
    
    Read the book carefully.  You MIGHT be able to claim Head of Household.
    Are you in MASS?  Just be careful on the state.  MASS has jipped me
    for two years saying I can't claim the child care for BOTH cuz I only
    claim ONE as a dependent.  But I explained to them that the book
    clearly states that childcare is SEPARATE from dependent deduction.
    
    Just keep in mind, anything HE claims that he's not supposed to is
    HIS problem, not yours!
    
    Good luck!
    
    
    
437.5You claim the Daycare!CIVIC::HENMUELLERVickieWed Feb 03 1993 15:0213
    Hi,
    
    I have been divorced for seven years fron my ex-husband and he has
    always gotten to claim the three children (I signed a form okaying it)
    BUT I ALWAYS claimed the daycare.  I figured he already got a tax break
    by claiming the kids.  I second the reply that you do not have to claim
    the child support but if you are receiving alimony you DO have to claim
    that.  
    
    I also second the reply that if he claims the daycare and gets 
    caught it is his problem not yours.  
    
    Vickie  
437.6file jointly if you canJASP::LINDSEYWed Feb 03 1993 17:5020
    
    Hi,
    
    If you just divorced this year, you were still legally married for part
    of the year.  I believe its possible to file jointly (if you are on 
    good enough terms).  Filing jointly will probably save you both the
    most money but if not head of household would be the next best filing
    status, but you would need to supply over 50% of the children's
    support.
    
    Child support is not deducible for him and not income for you.
    Alimony is reportable as income for you and deduction for him.
    
    Just make sure the amount of child support is less than half of
    the cost of supporting the children and you can take head of household.
    
    Good luck.
    
    Sue
    
437.7Hmm, good deal.SWAM2::MASSEY_VIIt's all in the cueTue Feb 09 1993 11:1313
    Wonderful response,  Thank you!
    
    
    The divorce was final July 1, 1992.  We are on great terms (We are
    talking of reconciliation).  The only problem with filing jointly is he
    is in Texas and I am in California.  Now we were separated for 3 years
    before we were divorced and we filed joint each year.  We both lived in
    California at the time but in different areas.  I do have a consultant,
    I just wanted some insight so I don't sound like a complete idiot when
    I go see him.  I wonder if filing joint would be better.
    
    Virginia
    
437.8GRANMA::MWANNEMACHERA new day has dawnedTue Feb 09 1993 16:286
    Good to hear you are on good terms and the chances of reconciliation. 
    Since you are, maybe you both can jointly go to a tax planner, leave
    the "it's his problem" out of it.
    
    
    Mike
437.9Done right, I hope,SWAM2::MASSEY_VIIt's all in the cueWed Feb 10 1993 11:198
    Well, seeing as how the rconciliation wont be at it's heigth untill I
    move out there in August, I'm filing myself.  He has already filed too. 
    He says he had a consultant do all the forms and filing for him because
    he is going to be working out of town for a month or so.  I would
    assume that the return was filed properly.  Now my turn!  Sheesh, I
    hate this time of year.
    
    Virginia
437.10Save cancelled checksCSTEAM::WRIGHTFri Feb 12 1993 12:564
    Just make sure you save your cancelled checks that you paid to your
    day care provider, in case you ever have to prove that YOU actually
    made the payments directly to day care, and he did not.