can me and my ex wife both claim our two kids on our taxes if they lived with us both?

Question

They have lived with mw since June 2006.I was just wondering if i could claim them on my taxes and if she can too?

Answer 1

The kids can only be claimed on one return. A SSN is required so the IRS will notice very quickly if you both try to claim them. The person the kids lived with for the majority of the year gets to claim them unless your divorce decree indicates another arrangement.

Depending on how good you relationship is with your ex, you might want to figure your tax returns both ways......you claiming them and her claiming them. If one results in a much larger refund, maybe you can agree to split it or put it away for the kids to use for college??

Answer 2

No, only one taxpayer can claim an exemption for a dependent. The general rule is that the parent that they lived with for the greater part of the year gets the exemption. Many divorced parents will split the exemptions in the interest of peace and harmony.

Answer 3

Usually, the parent who has primary physical custody claims the kids, and the other noncustodial parent can deduct child support payments from income. Also, in some divorce decrees the parties agree to switch off - mom gets to claim kids one year, dad the next, and then mom again. But you cannot both claim them in the same year.

Answer 4

The children have lived with you for longer than six months, and longer than the other parent. You have priority claim on the dependency exemptions. However, you or your wife can take the exemptions if you agree between yourselves who gets the exemptions.

If you want to give the dependency exemptions for one or both children to your ex-spouse, fill out Form 8332 and give it to her, waiving your claim on the dependency exemptions and child tax credit.

You cannot both take dependency exemptions for the same child at the same time.

Answer 5

no. Only one parent can and you must prove over 50 percent support for the year.