Parents in Georgia and throughout the country who share custody of their children may be unsure as to who gets to claim them as a dependent. While taxpayers aren’t allowed to obtain exemptions for their dependents until at least 2025, dependent tax credits are still available. Prior to claiming a child on a tax return, an individual may want to consult with a tax attorney.
Generally speaking, a parent is allowed to claim a child as a dependent if the child lived with that parent for more than half of the year. Furthermore, the son or daughter must be under the age of 19 on the final day of the tax year. A child may qualify as a dependent up to age 24 if he or she is going to school full-time. The person who is claiming the child must be older than the qualifying child.
In the event that both parents claim their son or daughter as a dependent, the IRS will typically send a notice to each. There is also a possibility that the IRS will allow one return to be processed while rejecting the other return. Those who are audited are encouraged to provide any documentation that proves that they are entitled to claim a child as a dependent for tax purposes.
Individuals who receive audit notices from the federal government may wish to have a tax attorney review their cases. An attorney may be able to negotiate with the IRS on behalf of a taxpayer, which may make it easier to resolve a tax case in a timely and favorable manner. An attorney may also help a taxpayer organize documents or gather other information that may prove that he or she is entitled to a credit or deduction.