You can’t divide a dependent exemption in half.
So, your ex claimed your child as a dependent on their tax return, when you were the only parent eligible to do this. Was it out of revenge? Maybe it was just miscommunication? Perhaps they believed they were actually allowed to? It happens. Regardless of the reason they did it, now you need to fix it and prevent this from happening in the future. RapidTax is here to help.
What will happen if I e-file my tax return?
You are the custodial parent of your child. Are you sure? To avoid confusion with the tax jargon I just threw your way, a custodial parent (for tax purposes, anyways) is the parent who the child lives with for the majority of nights per year. If both parents spent an equal amount of time with the child, then the parent with the highest adjusted gross income is the custodial parent (by default), according to the IRS. Keep in mind that determining who the custodial parent is does not depend on a state or county court ruling. For tax purposes, the IRS only considers federal law.
If both you and your ex e-file your tax returns and claim your child as a dependent, the one of you who filed second will be rejected by the IRS. This is inevitable. Even if you are the custodial parent, the IRS e-file system is a machine and you will still need to prove this.
What steps do I need to take to prove that I am the eligible parent?
The first thing to understand is that each tax situation is unique, and the best thing to do is contact the IRS directly for specific instructions on how to proceed. However, if you want a general idea of the steps you’ll need to take, keep reading.
Step #1: Double check that you meet all of the eligibility requirements set up by the IRS. This is important because if you do not meet even one of the following and your ex does, it could work against you. These requirements are:
- The child must be related to you.
- The child must be under age 19 or, if a full-time student, under age 24.
- The child must live with you for more than half the year.
- The child must receive at least 50% of their financial support from you.
Step #2: Paper File your tax return to the IRS with the child listed as your dependent. When a return is mailed to the IRS, it will make it’s way to an actual person instead of being pushed through the e-file cyberspace world.
Step #3: You and/or your ex will receive audit request letters from the IRS. Read this letter over carefully as it will let you know exactly what you will need to provide to the IRS next.
Step #4: Mail the requested documentation to the IRS. Again, this step will depend on what the letter states.
Step #5: Wait for a response from the IRS. Warning: this is time consuming and there’s really no way around that. In most cases, the IRS needs to wait on both parties involved to submit documentation and make their determination on who can claim the dependent child.
I think it is important that I stress just how time consuming and frustrating this process can be. In order to resolve it as quickly as possible, you should contact the IRS before filing the return. The IRS may require you to include documentation of your dependent when you initially mail your return in. Although each situation is different, the IRS cares about one thing when it comes to any situation like this: Facts. Regardless of how much drama this has caused in your life, it is best to leave the emotional details out when resolving this with the IRS.
How can I avoid this in future tax years?
After going through this resolution process with the IRS and your ex, trust me – You won’t want to ride this rollercoaster again. There are some precautions you can take when considering future tax years.
The ideal situation is to negotiate with your ex. You’d be surprised how much can be resolved with just one quick conversation. Haven’t spoken to your ex in years? Don’t feel like changing that? This is more likely than not; hence why the ‘ideal’ solution isn’t always preferable. On to the next…
The realistic measure to take would be to make sure you file your tax return as soon as possible. Now, I’m not suggesting you do this if you are clearly not eligible to claim the child, since that will only cause problems for you when the IRS finds out. However, if you are the parent who should be claiming the dependent on your tax return, then it is possible that your ex will give up when they are rejected by the IRS, or faced with another audit letter.
If you want to take precaution to the next level, you can paper file your tax return every year that you claim your child as a dependent, along with the supporting documentation (i.e. proof of your child residing with you). This will not guarantee IRS approval, but it could put you a step ahead of the game should this conflict happen again.
Are you stuck between a rock and a hard place?
You’ve contacted the IRS and received a letter with instructions for how to proceed. Do you still feel lost? Our team of tax professionals here at RapidTax can help you work through that IRS gibberish and get your tax return filed to the IRS.
My self and spouse (we are separated) both filed our children. I e-filed and he paper filed. I immediately amended my return. Will this cause the IRS to audit us or will we get in any type of trouble?
Amending your tax return to remove your dependents that were claimed on another return by your spouse will not trigger an IRS audit. If you did not amend your return and you and your spouse both wanted to claim your dependents, the IRS will examine both returns and apply their tiebreaker rules to determine who gets to claim the dependents.
I was rejected due to my ex filing before I did and claiming my son. I was advised by my tax preparer to send form 8332 and court documentation that it is my year to claim my child. I was given 3 envelopes, one addressed to the treasury IRS, one for my state and one for IRS Attn: Shipping and Receiving Receipt and Control Branch. Which do I need to send court documents and form 8332 to and which do I not? Does State get a copy? I want to make sure to get this done right the first time I send it out. Thank you for your time.
It would be best to consult with your tax preparer to ensure you mail the letters into the correct department.
Child has been with me last 2 years father claimed her illegally last 2 years. He has been ordered to pay child support plus I got a letter saying back support will taken from his taxes yet it seems he still received money by claiming her. I know now that I should mail my taxes in but, its too late you’ve already filed and got my return. What I need to know is what i need to file or send to IRS in order to stop this?
The problem can be solved by mailing in a paper return. But how do you prevent this from happening in future years? The IRS is working to improve its safeguards against tax fraud and identity theft, but these aren’t perfect. The best thing you can do to prevent someone else from claiming your dependent is to file your taxes as early as possible. That way your e-filed return will be accepted and theirs will be rejected. You’ll get your refund on time and they will be required to prove they meet the dependent criteria.
My x claimed one of my daughters for taxes and he didn’t have them all year nor visit them and he says he has the right n stopped paying child support and I just want know what. Can I do no sense he claimed her and I want stop it from he or anyone doing that in the future or. I’d like scudual a a pointment or u can email me or call 928 444 4135 thank you
Hi Stephine,
This is a common occurrence among separated parents claiming dependents so the IRS does have a system in place in terms of handling the situation. The best thing for you to do is follow the steps listed out in the article above. If you have any questions, you can give our tax experts a call at 877-289-7580.
I need to know how do I make sure no one claims my child on their taxes.
Hi Quiara,
Unfortunately, there is no 100% guaranteed way to prevent another person from claiming your child as a dependent. There are certain precautionary measures to take when filing your taxes. Some of these ways are listed in the article above under “How Can I Avoid This In Future Tax Years?”