Income taxes?

Me and my boyfriend live together and just had a baby, he already has a child from a previous realtionship....who claims our baby me or him? My baby and I live in his apartment does that mean he claims her? I really support her though....he pays all the bills, and I pay for her formula, diapers and clothes...if it came down to it I could even provide shelter for us (if the case was wherever she lives then that person claims her.) I just figured since he already has a child he could claim her and I would claim our baby...its only fair right?

Public Comments

1. are you from the UK or US? in the UK, the mother usually claims.
2. "Income taxes? Me and my boyfriend live together and just had a baby, he already has a child from a previous relationship....who claims our baby me or him? My baby and I live in his apartment does that mean he claims her? I really support her though....he pays all the bills, and I pay for her formula, diapers and clothes...if it came down to it I could even provide shelter for us (if the case was wherever she lives then that person claims her.) I just figured since he already has a child he could claim her and I would claim our baby...its only fair right?" The quick answer to your question is "The Father-- assuming he actually is the baby's daddy." Under IRS rules, the parent that pays the bulk of a child's support at least 6 months out of the year is the parent who is entitled to claim that child under the tax law. Given the fact pattern you have provided, it appears that the father (who "pays all the bills" except for formula, diapers, and clothes) actually pays the bulk of the child's expenses. That he also has another child and that you might be able to live someplace else isn't really relevant to your question. If the father is not on the child's birth certificate, then you would be the only one who could claim the child unless the father sought a paternity test and judicial recognition that the child is his. I'd suggest you approach the matter as if you and your boyfriend are business partners-- which you really are when it comes to the business of raising of your mutual child. Claiming the child on his taxes will probably be more beneficial since he would likely receive a greater tax refund than you would by claiming the child on yours. Then you two should equally split the amount of the child tax credit-- not the whole refund, just the portion of it attributable to the child. In other words, he'd give you about $500 of his tax refund on a $1000 child tax credit-- more if he happened to qualify for the "additional child tax credit." [This is not legal or tax advice. You should consult a licensed attorney-at-law for legal advice or representation before making decisions that may affect your legal rights and seek the assistance of an accountant or certified financial planner before making important financial decisions.]