tax time!

[basylica]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? tx

I did a quick search and didn't see what I was looking for. I've used turbo tax for the last few years to do my taxes (my inlaws always bought it and passed it to us, until the last few years) and since we had been seperated for over a year but nothing more than temp orders, I claimed both kids on my 08 taxes.
we finalized it, and I guess in tx it's standard to split the deductions for the kids even if I am the primary custodian.

so my ex can claim my elder son this year, and I claim the younger.
both are in daycare, the eldest just started kindergarten this year, so still gets afterschool care and had fulltime costs until aug. I pay 100% of daycare costs.

I am sure there is a way, but can I claim the elder's childcare costs on my taxes even if i'm not claiming him?
I know i'm cool with the younger one, both for tax deduction and childcare costs, but I pay out the nose for daycare and every penny helps!

Thought maybe a few of you had gone through this already and know. my mother never went through this as she never used daycare for us, and she claimed all of us on her taxes. ah, for the good old days eh?

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? tx

I did a quick search and didn't see what I was looking for. I've used turbo tax for the last few years to do my taxes (my inlaws always bought it and passed it to us, until the last few years) and since we had been seperated for over a year but nothing more than temp orders, I claimed both kids on my 08 taxes.
we finalized it, and I guess in tx it's standard to split the deductions for the kids even if I am the primary custodian.

so my ex can claim my elder son this year, and I claim the younger.
both are in daycare, the eldest just started kindergarten this year, so still gets afterschool care and had fulltime costs until aug. I pay 100% of daycare costs.

I am sure there is a way, but can I claim the elder's childcare costs on my taxes even if i'm not claiming him?
I know i'm cool with the younger one, both for tax deduction and childcare costs, but I pay out the nose for daycare and every penny helps!

Thought maybe a few of you had gone through this already and know. my mother never went through this as she never used daycare for us, and she claimed all of us on her taxes. ah, for the good old days eh?

If your son primarily lives with you, then you can claim him for head of household purposes (but not the tax exemption) and still claim daycare costs for him, and EIC if you qualify for that.

You have to be very careful about it though, so that you don't accidentally claim his exemption as well. I haven't used question and answer tax software in quite a while and I do not recall how easily Turbo Tax handles that.

 

[basylica]

If your son primarily lives with you, then you can claim him for head of household purposes (but not the tax exemption) and still claim daycare costs for him, and EIC if you qualify for that.

You have to be very careful about it though, so that you don't accidentally claim his exemption as well. I haven't used question and answer tax software in quite a while and I do not recall how easily Turbo Tax handles that.

Thanks a lot! I kinda miffed my way through the online version of TT and it looks like there is a place to claim HOH...and then add kids in for exemption, then a place for childcare exp and you can use previously defined kids or add another in for just daycare. I think I should be good....now....I just need to get all my tax info together.
one of these days i'll have enough tax money for my prop taxes saved up so I don't have to rush to get my income taxes done asap....*grin*
not having thousands in legal fees over divorce crap may help that goal next year

anyway, thanks...I was worried!