Jane remains eligible to use the child to potentially
claim head of household filing status, the earned income credit, and the credit for daycare expenses (assuming, of course, that she meets the other qualification for those things).
Can two people who live together
each claim head of household filing status?
Not exact matches
Even if a taxpayer can
claim the significant other as a dependent, this would not qualify the taxpayer for
head of household filing status.
For example, Alex could
claim both kids,
head of household filing status, and all
of the family's itemized deductions.
Angie would get the EIC and
claim the standard deduction; Alex would
claim 1 child and use
head of household filing status and
claim all the itemized deductions.
If you are eligible to
file head of household status, which is defined as a
filing status for single or considered unmarried taxpayers who keep up a home for a qualifying person, you can
claim the Earned Income Credit (EIC).
However, it may be more beneficial to use Form 1040 or Form 1040A, since those forms allow taxpayers to
claim «
head of household»
status (which typically results in a lower tax than
filing as «single»), dependents, and various credits and adjustments to income.
Because
claiming dependents comes with a tax exemption and other benefits — including the
head of household filing status, an earned income credit and a tax credit for the child — divorced couples might find themselves arguing over who gets to
claim the child on taxes.
However, the custodial parent, if eligible, or other eligible person can
claim the child as a qualifying child for
head of household filing status, the credit for child and dependent care expenses, the exclusion for dependent care benefits, and the earned income credit.
Also, the noncustodial parent can't
claim the child as a qualifying child for
head of household filing status or the earned income credit.