Income tax may be the last thing on your mind after a divorce or separation. However, these events can have a big impact on your taxes. Here are some key tax tips to keep in mind if you get divorced or separated.
- Child Support. If you pay child support, you can’t deduct it on your tax return. If you receive child support, the amount you receive is not taxable.
- If you make payments under a divorce or separate maintenance decree or written separation agreement, you may be able to deduct them as alimony. This applies only if the payments qualify as alimony for federal tax purposes. If the decree or agreement does not require the payments, they do not qualify as alimony. If you get payments that qualify as alimony, they are taxable in the year you receive them. You may need to increase the tax you pay during the year to avoid a penalty by making estimated tax payments or increasing taxes withheld from your wages.
- Spousal IRA. If you get a final decree of divorce or separate maintenance by the end of your tax year, you can’t deduct contributions you make to your former spouse’s traditional IRA. You may be able to deduct contributions you make to your own traditional IRA.
- Name Changes. If you change your name after divorce, notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the change. File Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card. You can get the form at SSA.gov or call (800) 772-1213 to order it. The name mismatch can delay your refund or cause other correspondence from the IRS.