Divorced Clients

[Super Mom]

I have clients who are divorced, but are civil and try to help each other out. I believe they both support the child and maintain a home and is with each for about half the year, the divorce papers say that they will trade times to claim the child each year. I'm thinking one parent can claim the child and get the child tax credit but file as single and the other can file head of household, not claiming the child or getting the credit, will that work?

[Super Mom]

Oh, and I forgot to say that no EIC is involved here. Thanks!

[Super Mom]

OK, I'm seeing the info. now, the custodial parent is the one I want to do HOH for and they can do an 8332 to the non-custodial parent for dependency exemption and child tax credit, am I right?

[kpangelinan]

I have clients who are divorced, but are civil and try to help each other out. I believe they both support the child and maintain a home and is with each for about half the year, the divorce papers say that they will trade times to claim the child each year. I'm thinking one parent can claim the child and get the child tax credit but file as single and the other can file head of household, not claiming the child or getting the credit, will that work?

Hmmmmm......I'm curious about this as well. I think this would work...without digging into it, that would be my initial thoughts. Would like to see who else chimes in on this.

[BOB W]

The problem here is the words "About half the year" for custody. If no one has custody for more than half the year, nobody gets HOH.

[kpangelinan]

OK, I'm seeing the info. now, the custodial parent is the one I want to do HOH for and they can do an 8332 to the non-custodial parent for dependency exemption and child tax credit, am I right?

Supposedly, this is how it work, yes.

[DonB]

The custodial parent is the one where child spends more nights than the other parent..

[BOB W]

This problem is simple to solve with a little planning ahead of time. Both parents need to count days and be sure of the outcome and who is going to be HOH with dependent in which year.

[ChEAr$]

This problem is simple to solve with a little planning ahead of time. Both parents need to count days and be sure of the outcome and who is going to be HOH with dependent in which year.

Count ye not the days, but the nights.

[BOB W]

I stand corrected............as usual............thanks

[oceanlovin'ea]

my understanding?

What I understood from your post is that custodial parent wants to be HOH but wants to give dependency exemption and CTC to other parent. Is that correct?

Are you wondering if they can switch back and forth from year to year? Parent A would be HOH this year and Parent B would claim dependency exemption and CTC. The next year Parent A would claim dependency exemption and CTC and Parent B would claim HOH. Is this the scenario you are suggesting?

If so, you would have to make sure the parent claiming HOH would have the child in their home more nights that year.
Otherwise, it is nice they can agree to work something out that will benefit both of them. Much nicer than "I'm going to stick it to you" attitude. Tell them nice going.

Linda, EA

[kpangelinan]

What I understood from your post is that custodial parent wants to be HOH but wants to give dependency exemption and CTC to other parent. Is that correct?

Are you wondering if they can switch back and forth from year to year? Parent A would be HOH this year and Parent B would claim dependency exemption and CTC. The next year Parent A would claim dependency exemption and CTC and Parent B would claim HOH. Is this the scenario you are suggesting?

If so, you would have to make sure the parent claiming HOH would have the child in their home more nights that year.
Otherwise, it is nice they can agree to work something out that will benefit both of them. Much nicer than "I'm going to stick it to you" attitude. Tell them nice going.

Linda, EA

Nice going indeed.....it's usually the other way around.

[Super Mom]

Thanks everyone for your help!!!!!!!