If you have 4 kids can your husband husband claim two and wife claims the other two kids?

Question

You file texes seperate but you are married to one another and live in a cando you own and both work. Will you both get 2,500 for each kid? So a total of $10,000. Can you do that? Or do you only get $2,500 per kid only two kids max? Someone told me you only can claim two kid max on taxes even if you have 4 kids, is that true?

Answer 1

OK-you have a lot of misinformation. You can claim as many kids as qualify 2,4 or 12. Who said you get $2500 per kid? There are so many variables, exemptions, child tax credit, Earned Income Credit. Some credits require you to file jointly some are available to those filing separate. I strongly suggest that you try filling out forms both ways-Jointly and Separate and see which one gets you the most refund and then file that way. I'll bet it will be MFJ-It usually is. A reputable tax preparer will do it both ways for you and then only charge you for the one actually filed.

Answer 2

You can file a joint return and claim all 4 there. Filing separately will almost surely cost you extra money, although you are allowed to file separately if you want to. If you do file separately, you can split the kids up among the 2 returns any way you want to, but the same kid can't be claimed on both returns.

The limit of 2 kids claimed only refers to the Earned Income Credit. If you file separately, you aren't eligible for EIC anyway. The "someone" who told you that you can only claim 2 kids on your taxes is WRONG.

Not sure what you're talking about with the $2500 per kid. You'll get a $3400 exemption for each one - that's an amount that is subtracted from your income before your tax is calculated. Then if you have any tax liability you'll get up to a $1000 child tax credit for each of the 4 if they're under age 17.

Answer 3

You will have to figure out how you will be filing.

You may file married filing jointly, put all 4 children on the tax return and see what the result is. On the joint return, the standard deduction will be $10,700. Each of the 6 exemptions will reduce your income by $3400. Each child under the age of 17 may reduce your tax by $1000 of child tax credit.

Or, you may file separately. The standard deduction on the separate return is $5350. You would claim yourself, he would claim himself and you would split the children up as you agree. You could put 2 children on each return, or you could put 1 and he could put 3, etc. (You just can't put the same child on both returns.)

If you file separately, there are special rules. On a separate return, no EIC. No education credits. Both of you take the standard deduction or both of you itemize, etc.

"Someone told me you only can claim two kid max on taxes even if you have 4 kids, is that true?"

That person apparently can claim EIC. The EIC credit increases if you have 1 vs 0 children or 2 vs 1. Since many preparers charge by the number of dependents on the return, many poor people won't put all of their dependents on their return if the tax refund doesn't change. Apparently the person who told you that you get $2,500 for each kid gets EIC for one child...the number is meaningless.

Answer 4

The two kids max deal is only when a person is trying to get earned income credit. You can not get earned income credit if you are filing "married filing separately". You and your husband would be much better off to file "married filing jointly" and claim six exemptions.