Danleco
Travelin' Again
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2005
- Messages
- 2,538
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Its almost year-end, which means I perform the annual ritual of checking what my tax return is going to look like.
Or tax bill, as is the case this year.
Now, I'm divorced with 3 little kiddos. Last year, the ex-wife signed over her right to claim the kids on her taxes to me, and I paid her for the right to do so. The logic being that I can pay her the difference on her tax refund from claiming the kids, which last year was less than $1000 since she has no income, and I can claim them, resulting in a benefit of 4x that to me.
This year, there is the same issue. Claiming the kids would result in a tax bill of less than $100 to me, NOT claiming them means I would owe the accursed IRS upwards of $5000.
I've told the ex that I would gladly pay her for the right to claim them again this year. Her response was that she'll have to consider it, and weigh the "ethics" of doing so. What ETHICS?! This is a completely legal situation, especially considering the IRS has a FORM that she has to sign for me to even have the RIGHT to claim them!
Grrr.... ex-wives can be maddeningly frustrating. I told her, sincerely, that I rather pay her the money than give it to the government. At least that way my kids benefit, by proxy of course, since I can't give them the money directly.
Anyone else have this issue? Anyone have some advice on how to deal with an insane ex-wife that thinks a perfectly LEGAL situation is somehow unethical?
Or, better still, could someone sane explain to me what is unethical about this?
Or tax bill, as is the case this year.
Now, I'm divorced with 3 little kiddos. Last year, the ex-wife signed over her right to claim the kids on her taxes to me, and I paid her for the right to do so. The logic being that I can pay her the difference on her tax refund from claiming the kids, which last year was less than $1000 since she has no income, and I can claim them, resulting in a benefit of 4x that to me.
This year, there is the same issue. Claiming the kids would result in a tax bill of less than $100 to me, NOT claiming them means I would owe the accursed IRS upwards of $5000.
I've told the ex that I would gladly pay her for the right to claim them again this year. Her response was that she'll have to consider it, and weigh the "ethics" of doing so. What ETHICS?! This is a completely legal situation, especially considering the IRS has a FORM that she has to sign for me to even have the RIGHT to claim them!
Grrr.... ex-wives can be maddeningly frustrating. I told her, sincerely, that I rather pay her the money than give it to the government. At least that way my kids benefit, by proxy of course, since I can't give them the money directly.
Anyone else have this issue? Anyone have some advice on how to deal with an insane ex-wife that thinks a perfectly LEGAL situation is somehow unethical?
Or, better still, could someone sane explain to me what is unethical about this?