What Happens When Both Parents Claim a Child on a Tax Return?

Unless you and your spouse file a joint tax return, a child can only be a claimed as a dependent by one parent. This requires that the child not provide more than half of their own financial support and reside with you for more than half the tax year. This only applies to children under the age of 19, or under the age of 24 if attending school full time. Otherwise, they can't be your qualifying child, however, they might still be claimed as a dependent if they meet the test as a qualifying relative. If your child is away at school during the year, you can treat that time as if the child lives with you. In addition, you must also ensure that you are not an eligible dependent for another taxpayer. Taxpayers who qualify as dependents to someone else are ineligible to claim their own dependents.

There is one exception to the residence requirement that allows the non-custodial parent to claim their child as a dependent. The non-custodial parent can take the exemption if the custodial parent agrees not to on their own tax return. However, you must obtain a signed IRS Form 8332 or similar written document from the custodial parent allowing you to do so. Parents who have joint custody may also use this form to alternate the tax years in which each can claim the exemption.

If you erroneously claimed your child as a dependent, the Internal Revenue Code allows you to amend your tax return within three years of filing the original or within two years of paying the relevant tax, whichever is later. However, eliminating the exemption increases your taxable income and may require you to pay additional tax for that year. Although penalties may apply to the underpayment, the IRS can waive them if you can convince them that it was an unintentional error.

If you choose not to amend your tax return, you run the risk of the IRS discovering that the same child is being claimed as a dependent on two returns. The IRS has three years from the time you file the original return to perform an examination and make additional assessments. In the event you are chosen for an audit, the agency is likely to require proof that your child either lives with you or that you have the other parent's consent.

There is the possibility that the IRS will not discover the error within the three-year period. However, if you take the exemption with full knowledge that you do not qualify, the IRS may argue that it has an unlimited amount of time to examine your return since you made a willful attempt to evade income tax.