If I claim my boyfriend on my taxes, will Child support take my refund?

Question

Hi

My boyfriend and I have been together for 4 years now. Last year, I couldn't find a babysitter for my daughter so he stayed home watching her and now our new baby. He's child support payment have been accumulating since.
Now, because I have been supporting the whole family I was thinking about claiming him on my taxes but I'm scare Child support will confiscate my refund to give it to his older son's mother due to backed up child support. I mean, we are not married, we've lived together for 3 years, they can't take my money, can they?
My question is, If I claimed him on my taxes, would Child support garnished MY refund due to his child support?

Seriuos Answers only please. I will prefered if somebody who deals with the IRS or filing taxes experience will answer please.

Answer 1

You can't claim your boyfriend on taxes! Where the heck did you come up with that? You have to be married to claim him.

Answer 2

The form is form 8332. If the mother agrees to sign it--and for the situation you are describing, she wouldn't--then he could attach the form to his tax return and claim the child for exemption and child tax credit purposes only. As custodial parent, the right to claim the child care credit, EIC and be eligible for HOHh status stays with the mother. As for "what if he filed first"--yes, this happens all the time. It screws up the mom's legitimate return. She has to file a paper return to get her refund and then the IRS has to deal with a duplicate dependent in the system. Initially both parents will get a letter asking that they check their records. The parent who made the mistake is given the opportunity to amend their tax return, remove the child and pay back any excess refund with penalties and interest. If the parent who made the error doesn't amend, the IRS will then ask for proof of the claim. The absence of the form 8332 will be obvious. If the tax return went even further and claimed HOH and EIC (and these returns often do), the money involved is substantial and the non-custodial parent may face a 2 or 10 year ban from ever being to claim EIC in the future. As much as you think $660 is a hardship, the cost of raising a child is far more than you appear to realize.

Answer 3

If you provide more than half of your bf's support, he lived with you all year, his income was less than $3,300, he's a U.S. citizen, and he can't be claimed as dependent on anyone else,

then...

you can claim a dependent exemption for him, but you can not claim head of household due only to him. You could file as head of household if you had children of your own living in the house that you provided more than half support for.

Either way, your refund can't be siezed to cover his debts.

Answer 4

If you are paying your b/f to watch your child while you work and take the Child Care Credit, you may NOT claim your b/f as your dependent.

Any back child support that he owes will not affect YOUR tax refund.

Answer 5

No, you're OK. Claiming him as a dependent won't make your refund subject to being taken for HIS debts.

Answer 6

you cannot claim him on your taxes, period. he is not a dependent or a spouse. since you are not married, you have to file as a single head of household. you could get into major trouble if the irs finds out if you do claim your boyfriend.

Answer 7

you can't claim your bf as a dependent. Your tax return will be adjusted by the IRS.

Answer 8

yes unfair but true, they will if you own any of the goverment money, or your spouse or boyfriend if you claim eachother. its saying you both pay the bills, or if you work saying your together and you are paying and that falls in there if you claim him. that happened to us, they first year i was with my now husband. but he needs to get it straight, cause thats nothing to play around with it only gets worse if you let it go,

Answer 9

I hope they do. The loser needs to get a job and support his kids. Deadbeat.