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Adoption and Taxes!

We're hoping to adopt in December, but aren't sure how to file taxes since we're not legally married. We'd like any advice or suggestions. Should we split it or put the child under whoever makes less money or what?

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Permalink Reply by Cooper Smith Koch on September 23, 2010 at 1:10pm

I was told you can deduct eligible adoption expenses however you want, as long as the money's only deducted once. You just tally them up and split them. We did it all on my taxes this past year because I made significantly less than Todd and his income was higher than the allowable limits for those deductions.

For the dependent allowances, you have to choose which one, because that one can't be split and they do ask for the child's Tax ID or SSN.

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Permalink Reply by Stacey R Segal on April 20, 2011 at 8:52pm

I was able to file last year on adoption expenses and only the legal parent can file. You will need ss number. Additionally do not forget to file day care expenses if that's an option.

Cooper Smith Koch said:

I was told you can deduct eligible adoption expenses however you want, as long as the money's only deducted once. You just tally them up and split them. We did it all on my taxes this past year because I made significantly less than Todd and his income was higher than the allowable limits for those deductions. For the dependent allowances, you have to choose which one, because that one can't be split and they do ask for the child's Tax ID or SSN.