{"id":40024,"date":"2025-02-12T12:11:36","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T17:11:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/?p=40024"},"modified":"2025-03-10T11:51:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T15:51:43","slug":"taxes-after-divorce-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/taxes-after-divorce-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Divorce or Separation: Who Can Claim a Child as a Dependent on Taxes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Navigating taxes after a divorce or separation can be tricky, especially if it’s your first time filing as a single individual. There are two key tax considerations for single parents.<\/p>\n

First, we’ll clarify the rules around claiming dependents, including available tax breaks and eligibility requirements for claiming your child(ren).<\/p>\n

Second, we’ll discuss the importance of paying your nanny legally and how this can provide additional tax benefits for qualifying parents.<\/p>\n

Who is the custodial parent?<\/h2>\n

The custodial parent is the parent with whom the child lives most of the year.\u00a0 However, situations can become more complex when custody is shared equally between both parents.\u00a0 In these cases where the child spends equal time with each parent, the IRS has a tie-breaker rule<\/a>.\u00a0 The parent with the higher adjusted gross income is then eligible to claim the child as a dependent.<\/p>\n

What tax benefits come from claiming a dependent?<\/h2>\n

Several tax benefits can be available (if you are eligible) only to the custodial parent claiming the child(ren).<\/p>\n