My boyfriend and I have a son, and last year his dad did our taxes seperate...he let my boyfriend claim our son and I was left by myself...because he said we got more back that way! I always thought you get more back if we were all together as a family and did my boyfriend did head of household.
2006-11-28 04:05:52 · 6 answers · asked by janedoe! 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
you cannot claim as a family .. because
YOUR NOT MARRIED
2006-11-28 04:13:47 · answer #1 · answered by Mopar Muscle Gal 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Since you're not married, you are not allowed to file jointly, if that's what you mean by being all together as a family.
Head of household is available only to people who are NOT married. There are some other rules, but very possibly your boyfriend would have been eligible, if he pays more than half the expenses of maintaining the household, and claims your son as his dependent. You would still have to file as single. If you make more than he does, and you pay more than half the expenses of maintaining the household, then you should file head of household and claim your son, and your boyfriend should file as single.
If one or both of you would be eligible for the Earned Income Credit if you claim your son, then that could change the above answer, although legally the only one who's allowed to claim him is the one paying more than half of his support.
2006-11-28 22:53:19 · answer #2 · answered by Judy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't file as married since you aren't married. Unfortunately Bush in his infinite wisdom last year changed a lot of the tax rules regarding this exact situation. Who benefits most by claiming your son depends on your and your boyfriend's income. For example if he makes 36k/year and you only make 19K/ year than it may be more advanatageous for you to claim your son since you can get the EIC (earned income credit) which will probably be greater than any refund he gets. EIC can be as high as $3,000 depending on your income and qualified kids. If he makes over lets say $32,000/ year and you make a lot less it maybe to your advantage to claim the child. Also remember that just becuase your b-friend's father filed a return a particular way doesn't mean you can't ammend it. You have 3 years to ammend a return after you file it. The best way is to visit a professional tax advisor. Prior to last year your boyfriend would've been able to claim your son's dependency exemption to help him with his higher income and you would've been able to claim him for EIC reasons assuming of course you qualify for EIC. Bush changed the laws and it can no longer be done. The child can't be split different tax benefits. It was all part of the Defense of Families Act he passed. I hope this helps. To make a long story short it all depends on how much money you and your boyfriend make.
2006-11-28 12:43:16 · answer #3 · answered by ME 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You get back more by claiming head of household.
2006-11-28 12:12:57 · answer #4 · answered by MARY F S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no "family" category. It's either single, married (filing seperate or filing joint) or head of household.
2006-11-28 19:36:44 · answer #5 · answered by Eddie C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You know that answer, Your not married. And typical, the highest wage earner get the most deductions.
2006-11-28 12:08:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋