Question about taxes

MsJosie

I have not worked at all for the year 2011, don't I have to claim taxes that I had a baby? How would I do that without any W2's? Also, EX wants to claim LO on his taxes and I told him over my dead body. Will he really be able to claim her on his taxes? She lives with me and has since the day she was born.

CPA04

Is he your ex or XH? If you weren't married, I don't believe he would have the right to claim her. If you were married, the parent whom the child lives with more than 50% of the time and provides the majority of financial support claims the child unless there's a different agreement. Regardless, only one of you can claim her, so I'd file ASAP and beat him to it. 

File as head of household, NOT as single. 

FyreFlyeRush

If you're not filing, I'm not sure how you CAN claim her. Did you not have any income in 2011? Unemployment, etc? How are your living? If you live with your parents, you may not be able to file Head of Household. In fact, your PARENTS may be able to claim her as a dependent. If he has been providing child support and medical care, even if she lives with you, then he may have a legit right to claim her. I've always claimed DD, but my child support is less than what I make in a week.

thefarmchick

Honestly I would set up an appointment with a Tax professional.  I think H&R Block doesn't charge you just to see if you qualify to file.
I would give them a call, tell them what your situation is and see if it's worth making the appointment.

I would do it ASAP!

Raspberry807

You must have earned income to receive any tax benefit of claiming your LO on your tax return.  If you lived with your parents, they may be able to claim both you and LO as dependents on their income tax returns.

If your ex is current on child support, it's my opinion that he should be able to claim the child every other year because he is providing support just as you (or your parents) are. 

turtle1120

So you constantly bash your Ex for not paying child support and you call him a trust fund baby, but you don't work yourself?  Awesome. 

You can't file taxes if you don't have income.  The IRS doesn't care if you had a baby - you don't have to notify them of that.

covertxxamour

turtle1120:

So you constantly bash your Ex for not paying child support and you call him a trust fund baby, but you don't work yourself?  Awesome. 

You can't file taxes if you don't have income.  The IRS doesn't care if you had a baby - you don't have to notify them of that.

In OP's defense, some women cannot afford to work if they are taking care of a child. I worked for the entire 9 months I was pregnant (on an ambulance, lifting heavy patients, etc). But now? I stay at home, because if I worked, I would only be paying for child care. I'm better off staying home! She was simply asking a question. No need to get defensive.

MsJosie

turtle1120:

So you constantly bash your Ex for not paying child support and you call him a trust fund baby, but you don't work yourself?  Awesome. 

You can't file taxes if you don't have income.  The IRS doesn't care if you had a baby - you don't have to notify them of that.

Yes, I do bash him and have every right to for your information! He physically abused me while I was pregnant with LO. He even offered me 25k to have an abortion! As far as I'm concerned, he's the dirt under my feet. I was involved in a terrible car accident in May where I was the pedestrian and was hurt pretty bad when I got hit at 75mph. I am still going through physical therapy! My car was also totaled in the accident. So before you go talking crap about someone you should know the facts! Also, I am in school online full-time! Thank you

covertxxamour

MsJosie:

turtle1120:

So you constantly bash your Ex for not paying child support and you call him a trust fund baby, but you don't work yourself?  Awesome. 

You can't file taxes if you don't have income.  The IRS doesn't care if you had a baby - you don't have to notify them of that.

Yes, I do bash him and have every right to for your information! He physically abused me while I was pregnant with LO. He even offered me 25k to have an abortion! As far as I'm concerned, he's the dirt under my feet. I was involved in a terrible car accident in May where I was the pedestrian and was hurt pretty bad when I got hit at 75mph. I am still going through physical therapy! My car was also totaled in the accident. So before you go talking crap about someone you should know the facts! Also, I am in school online full-time! Thank you

   You don't have to explain yourself to anyone. You simply asked a question. No harm in that. Good luck!

MsJosie

covertxxamour:

turtle1120:

So you constantly bash your Ex for not paying child support and you call him a trust fund baby, but you don't work yourself?  Awesome. 

You can't file taxes if you don't have income.  The IRS doesn't care if you had a baby - you don't have to notify them of that.

In OP's defense, some women cannot afford to work if they are taking care of a child. I worked for the entire 9 months I was pregnant (on an ambulance, lifting heavy patients, etc). But now? I stay at home, because if I worked, I would only be paying for child care. I'm better off staying home! She was simply asking a question. No need to get defensive.

 

Thank you! I appreciate your defensive post. People just don't know my whole story so I take any offensive posts with a grain of salt. I worked the year before and up until I found out I was pregnant with LO (I was on bed rest from 7 weeks until I delivered) and had a very nice savings account. We have been living off that so I can stay home with her and finish my Bachelor's Degree Online! Like you said, if I did get a job I would be working to pay for childcare, so I'm staying home and finishing school!

FyreFlyeRush

covertxxamour:

turtle1120:

So you constantly bash your Ex for not paying child support and you call him a trust fund baby, but you don't work yourself?  Awesome. 

You can't file taxes if you don't have income.  The IRS doesn't care if you had a baby - you don't have to notify them of that.

In OP's defense, some women cannot afford to work if they are taking care of a child. I worked for the entire 9 months I was pregnant (on an ambulance, lifting heavy patients, etc). But now? I stay at home, because if I worked, I would only be paying for child care. I'm better off staying home! She was simply asking a question. No need to get defensive.

^This. I worked and went to school from the time DD was 8w old, but I had a lot of help. If I hasn't qualified for a teen parent program that paid 100% of child care as long as I was a full time student, I wouldn't have made it.

@the OP, personally, I would have taken the 25K and had the baby any way. But, I'm girl power that way. And, any time I can prove I'm better than a man, I will. Just a chip I have, lol.

monpetitechouchou01

Sigh. No need to explain yourself but I understand why OP. Just continue working hard to earn your degree and keep in mind that in the end it'll be for the benefit of you and your child!  

I earned a scholarship during my second bachelor's degree and it helped me through it since I had to leave my full time job in order to obtain it. One day when I'm through this tough time of being a future single mom and getting things with the dad in order I intend on funding a scholarship for single moms obtaining educational degrees. I've never been in that situation but I know how difficult it was to obtain a degree without a job and without a child. So I can only imagine all of what I went through and with a baby on top of that! 

  

turtle1120

I never said it was ok for your Ex to abuse you, and I'm sorry to learn about your accident.

Good for you for being in school to make a better life for you and your daughter.  

MsJosie

turtle1120:

I never said it was ok for your Ex to abuse you, and I'm sorry to learn about your accident.

Good for you for being in school to make a better life for you and your daughter.  

 Thank you! I appreciate your apology. I know how stories can get mixed up and confusing because we all don't know everything about each of our different situations. Thank you! Going to school and being a full time mom definitely keeps me busy and is a lot of work! I give a ton of credit to moms who go to school, work, and take care of their children being single.

DHYGchica3

covertxxamour:

turtle1120:

So you constantly bash your Ex for not paying child support and you call him a trust fund baby, but you don't work yourself?  Awesome. 

You can't file taxes if you don't have income.  The IRS doesn't care if you had a baby - you don't have to notify them of that.

In OP's defense, some women cannot afford to work if they are taking care of a child. I worked for the entire 9 months I was pregnant (on an ambulance, lifting heavy patients, etc). But now? I stay at home, because if I worked, I would only be paying for child care. I'm better off staying home! She was simply asking a question. No need to get defensive.

^^ This! I got pregnant while in a program that was impossible to work and have enough time to study. I started working 3 hrs a week for an office that just needs a short shift fill in. Then bam, my world is upside down and I'm relying on the 3 hrs a week, which isn't enough.. The economy sucks and no one is hiring.

ballmom

Do you have a CO in place? If not, then yes he could try and file to claim your DD. Basically without that CO whoever files first gets the exemption. There are many people on another board I am on that goes thru this every single year (even with a CO they have tax drama).

Here is the up part of him filing and claiming her: if he is behind a substantial amount (the amounts have changed since I was getting CS so I do not know the new limits) then his refund will be intercepted and sent to you. I had this happen for a few years.