Should I claim my son?

Question

My son was born in March 06. I'm a stay at home mom and I only worked for 8 weeks, it wasn't two entire months because the month had extra days. I don't think I'll get anything back if I claim my son. My boyfriend thinks he should claim our son since he has worked more. We both have agreed to split the money. I don't think I will get anything back. Also, if my boyfriend claims him this year, will I be able to claim my son next year? Is it always best the mother claims her child even if she barely works?

I failed to mention that I had a part time 4 hour job...in total my tax return was $73.16 and I get back all of it.

Answer 1

If you claim him you would get a $1000 deduction for the baby plus the full earned income credit (about $2600 for the 2006 tax year) assuming you earned less than $11000 during those 8 weeks you worked. However, if you didn't pay $1000 in taxes you would only get back what you did pay plus the earned income credit.

If your boyfriend claims him he would get the $1000 deduction (if he paid more that $1,000 in taxes), and he would only qualify for the EIC if he made less than $33,000 (if he made under $11,000 he'd get the whole credit, and a portion of the credit for up to $33,000).

Technically, the person who provides more than 50% of the child's expenses should be the one to claim him.

A different person can claim the child from year to year, though only one person per year can claim him.

You just need to work the numbers for both of your circumstances to see what will benefit you most this year.

Answer 2

I think that it is better for you to claim him since you are not married you will get more back since you didn't work as much. But either one of you will be able to claim him next year even if the other one claimed him the year before.

Answer 3

I'd say work the numbers both ways and do whatever gets you most. It won't affect next years claim at all. My dad claimed both me and my son for the first two years of my son's life, once we moved out and were on our own I started to claim him with no problem.

Answer 4

It doesn't matter who the child lives with, the divorce decree is what's important. As for your personal relationship with your X, he's probably not the only bad guy. In 2005, when your son went to live with him, did you have any change in the financial agreement in dealing with this change. I'm pretty sure that he feels he got the worse of the financial deal and thinks the least he can get is have his son as a dependent.

Answer 5

The person who claims the children is usually the person with the lower income which also means it is the mother. This doesn't mean that your boyfriend can not claim you as his spouse, which he will anyways. If yo have a proper tax advisor, they will settle these questions for you. Relax. You will be fine.

Answer 6

If you have agreed to split the money, the deduction will help him more that you beings that he has worked full time......and yes if he claims him this year, you can next year...you just both can't claim him.....

Answer 7

if the child is with you then you will get an earned income credit. you should claim your son. if you go back and forth with who claims him the IRS is gonna audit you. split the money? no. you need the money to take care of you and your child. whats working got to do with it? claim your child.

Answer 8

You could claim your son. You would get a child credit

You would get back at least 2000.00. He may get more back because he worked more but you would get money

Yes he can claim next year

Answer 9

I think you should claim him and then next year she can claim him next year if you want. But i think that is fair that you make the money and you get the kid

Answer 10

Who is the better parent? Yes, it is okay for a mother to claim her son if she barely works. You can get on welfare, and then when you can try to get a job to support yourself.