Taximony! How the Government Shares in Your Divorce

"Everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." So said Benjamin Franklin. While sometimes marriage also fails to meet the promise it will last, the taxman is eternal.

What are some of the tax concerns that divorcing couples might face? When there are children, two important factors to consider are the way child support payments are treated and the filing status of each parent.

Child support payments are not deductible by the paying parent and are not included in the income of the receiving parent. This is much different than spousal support where the paying spouse deducts the full amount of the payment and the receiving spouse includes the payments in income.

Filing status determines the tax rate each spouse will pay. Divorced spouses would typically file as "Individuals," with the highest tax rates. When there are children, there is a category called "Head of Household" which is closer to the reduced tax rates enjoyed by married couples. In order to qualify for "HH," a spouse must provide more than 50% of the costs to maintain his / her household; must be unmarried; and the household must be the primary residence for a qualifying individual (a child supported by the parents does qualify) that lives with the taxpayer more than one-half the year. It is possible, when there is more than one child, for both spouses to claim HH, providing each has physical custody for more than half the year.

To read this article in its entirety, please click here.

For more information, contact the Family Law Offices of Renee M. Marcelle at (415) 456-4444, or online at http://www.familylawmarin.com/




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