Claiming Tax Exemptions for Children After Divorce

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Quoting llworking

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Sharing your filing status with her gives her absolutely no ammunition against you in any way, shape or form. On top of that, there is no way that anyone can force you to file a separate tax return, no one has the legal authority to do so (no, the judge does NOT have that authority).

In fact, sharing your filing status with her might possibly put an end to the matter. Your outrage over this whole thing seems way over the top to me.

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All good points. Food for thought.

If I come across outraged, I've missed the mark a little. I'm more cautious than anything. Things have been very difficult been us lately. She twists anything and everything I say. I just don't want to give away information that I'm not obligated to. I'm trying to ensure that I do not say anything that I haven't carefully considered first. This is just an area of very gray understanding for me.

I misspoke. Child support is paid to her. No alimony.

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Quoting MixtecoBlue

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All good points. Food for thought.

If I come across outraged, I've missed the mark a little. I'm more cautious than anything. Things have been very difficult been us lately. She twists anything and everything I say. I just don't want to give away information that I'm not obligated to. I'm trying to ensure that I do not say anything that I haven't carefully considered first. This is just an area of very gray understanding for me.

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Well, you can always say to her that you are not interested in making any changes at this time...and leave it at that. You do not have to make any confrontational statements like "if you don't like it take me to court". Or be confrontational like telling her to "pound sand". If she has a benign reason for asking she may or may not go on to explain herself better but if things are tense between the two of you, avoiding saying confrontational things is the better way to go.

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Quoting Raster

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What you don't say is very hard to twist against you....and Id not add fuel to any fires

Some orders do contain language to share income information annually but beyond that your tax info/status is not likely to be any of her business and I'd not open any back doors to seeking spousal income information

PS I presume you meant pay some alimony to her not "support" to her ---big difference as to tax impact.

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I would like to point out that she did not ask him any income information. She simply asked him if he filed a joint return with his wife, which once again, answering that question cannot hurt him in any way. Not answering it is ok too, but answering it cannot hurt him.

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Quoting llworking

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On top of that, there is no way that anyone can force you to file a separate tax return, no one has the legal authority to do so (no, the judge does NOT have that authority).

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Just to be clear, if the OP and his ex-spouse were still in the process of getting their divorce the judge in that divorce proceeding could indeed tell the parties how to file (jointly or separate) until the divorce became final. I agree that the judge in the divorce matter between the OP and his ex has no authority to tell the OP how to file a return with his new wife. Apart from that, there is one other person who could force the OP to file a separate return: his present wife. If his present wife goes ahead and files a separate return, that would of course force the OP to file separately as well.

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Quoting llworking

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In fact, sharing your filing status with her might possibly put an end to the matter. Your outrage over this whole thing seems way over the top to me.

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It might end the matter. On the other hand, I can’t think of any good reason why the ex would need to know how the OP and his current wife intend to file their returns. For me, that would fall under the category of things that are none of the ex’s business and if I were in the OP’s shoes, I’d probably tell her just that.

I appreciate the help everyone. Thank you. I chose the "I see no reason to change our agreement" route. If she tries to take me to court over it, I welcome it. She has proven time and again that she is unwilling to put in the time to research the issues she brings me to court over. I'm not worried, but I am better informed thanks to all of you.

-Jeff