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Your Taxes After Your Divorce


Divorces can cause a lot of trouble and get messy for some people. But if you think the mess only lasts up until the divorce process is concluded, think again. Divorces affect several aspects of one’s life. A lot of those aspects need to be adjusted and sorted out after the divorce as well. One of those aspects would be how you do your taxes. And while this isn’t an immediate concern during the divorce process, it becomes one after.

Documents and Requirements

Before you make changes and adjust documents, find out first if you have to. If your divorce is concluded on or before the last taxing day of the year, which is December 31, then you won’t be able to file a joint tax return with your spouse. That means you’ll have to update your filing status and file the appropriate documents needed for it. The taxes you pay will then have to be adjusted to that.

If your divorce was concluded after the last taxing day of the year, you can still file a joint tax return. But whether or not you get to file a joint tax return, you will also have to update all the necessary information eventually.

Child Support, Alimony Payments, Etc.

Aside from your filing status, you’ll also have to update your information on whether you have dependents or not. You also have to indicate whether you make any alimony payments or not. If you, for example, have your children as your dependents, the amount you pay for your taxes will get adjusted. Usually, whether your children are your dependents or not is based on your custody agreement. One should also note that any payments you make for child support cannot be deducted from your taxes. On the other hand, any alimony payments you make can be deducted from your taxes. In line with that, any alimony payments made to you count as income and must be declared when you file your taxes.

The way you do your taxes and how much you pay changes a lot after getting a divorce. And while it may be difficult to sort out after your divorce, it doesn’t have to be as hard if you know what to do. This article presents a general outline of what may change after your divorce in terms of taxes. Should you have any other questions, going to the appropriate office nearest you would still be the best option to answer any other questions you have.

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Mr. Hutton is a Divorce and Custody Lawyer based out of Round Rock, TX. His background is with child psychology at Arizona State University where he received a B.S. in 2006, and he continued this by working with the Children’s Right’s Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law where he received his J.D. in 2009. Throughout his practice, he has been a strong proponent of utilizing modern technology to improve his practice and the representation of his clients. He currently is the technology chair of CAFA of Travis County and is committed to improving and modernizing the practice of law in Texas. If you have any questions you can contact him at timothy.hutton@austintexaslegal.com

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