TG wrote:

- quote -

No. Marital status is set for the entire year and is not
proratable.

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TG <tonygoodfellow[at]earthlink.net> wrote:

- quote -

for 2002 you cannot file joint
you must file single

however the income maint ( the correct term) will be fully
deductible by you for the whole year if you lived apart the
whole year and paid per a WRITTEN SEPARATION AGREEMENT.

no written separation agreement??
then the only deduction you will get is what you paid under
the final divorce terms or for the april-dec payments.

note that any child support for the children are never deductible

btw your wife may now have to file and pay on the amount of
your income maint deduction

Charlie


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My ex and I seperated in July of 2000 (and lived seperately
thereafter). I filed for divorce in October of 2000, after a
long process dragged out by my Ex the divorce became final
in April 2002. Upon seperation I agreed to pay her support
(what ever the correct term is). I did this up to the
divorce date. After that time I have been paying the support
agreed to at the divorce. For 2000 and 2001 I(we) filed as
married filing jointly. However I have been
procrastingating about the 2002 return.

It is my understanding that I should file as single for 2002
(I do not qulaify as head of household) but can only claim
the supoport payments from April 2002. This means that I
will be paying tax for the first four months as a single
person but not gaining even the marriage allowance. My ex is
not working.

I usually get a healthy tax refund because I under claim on
the W4 to ensure that I do not owe tax.

Is there any way I can get the first four months of payments
as a deduction or alternatively prorate the married/single
allowances???

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