See all Ways to File Taxes
Tax File Minute: Answers from a Tax Insider
How marriage and divorce impact your taxes
Chief Tax Information Officer Mark Steber breaks down the three filing status types that affect those who are recently married or divorced.
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Family tax tips
When it comes to taxes, family matters. Your marital status and children can affect how much money you save – or owe – on your taxes. Find out how.
Children and dependents
How will children and/or dependents affect your tax liability? How does the IRS define a child? And what does adoption mean for your tax return?
Filing status
When it comes to choosing a filing status, you might have options – but which is best for you and your family?
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MAJOR LIFE CHANGES
Changed marital status
If your marital status changed recently, your tax situation has also changed. Here’s how.
Adoption tax rules—you could get thousands in credits
Adopting a child into your family is a profoundly life-changing event. If you or someone close to you has had this experience, you know how many new feelings – love, concern, protection, pride – come into your life.
Your Questions
I am divorced and the parent with custody, but am considering releasing the right to claim the tax benefits of our dependent child to my ex. What forms should I fill out for this?
You will need to file Form 8332.
My-16 year-old just got their first paying job. Do they have to file income taxes?
Anyone under the age of 18 with an income over their standard deduction is required to file a tax return for the year. If your child has income taxes withheld, they must file a tax return to get their withholding back as a refund when they are under the standard deduction amount.
At what point does a new baby have to be born for me to claim them on my taxes for the year?
A child must be born by midnight December 31 to be eligible as your dependent. Even if your son or daughter was born a minute before midnight on New Year’s Eve, you can claim the tax benefits for them on your taxes for the entire year.
I pay all the bills for my girlfriend and her children. Can I claim her children on my taxes?
No. The tax benefits for a child are generally for parents only. However, if the child lived with you the full year and the mother is the custodial parent who has no taxable income, you might be able to claim the $500 Credit for Other Dependents. You would not be eligible for EIC, the Child Tax Credit, or the credit for Child and Dependent Care Expenses based on the child.
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