Your Taxes After Divorce

When you're going through a divorce, taxes may not be your first concern. However, your tax situation can change drastically during and after a divorce. Here are some of the most common tax situations that may be impacted during and after a divorce.

What Is Your Filing Status?

Depending on where you are in the divorce process as of Dec. 31, you may have options when selecting your filing status.

Separated at Year-End but Not Yet Divorced

If you are separated—but not legally divorced—on or before Dec. 31, you will most likely file as either married filing jointly (MFJ) or married filing separately (MFS).

MFJ is almost always more beneficial, as it gives you greater access to tax credits that are unavailable if you file MFS. In most years, the standard deduction for MFJ is double the standard deduction for MFS.

Married filing separately is usually not beneficial (with a few limited exceptions) from a purely financial perspective. However, it may be a good option for those who wish to separate their finances as soon as possible.

Divorced at Year-End

If you are divorced on or before Dec. 31, you will either be a single filer or, if you qualify, head of household (HOH). You qualify as HOH if you meet these three criteria:

• You are considered unmarried at the end of the year, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). To be "considered unmarried" while still technically married, your spouse must not have lived in your home the final six months of the year, and you need to file separate returns in addition to the other criteria listed here.
• You have a qualifying person who lived in your home for more than half of the year (certain exceptions to this requirement exist for children away at school and dependent parents who are in your care).
• You must have paid more than half the cost of keeping up your home for the year.

There are many benefits to filing HOH. The standard deduction is higher for HOH than for a single filer. HOH allows you to qualify for certain tax credits (explained in more detail in the next section). In addition, the lower tax brackets have higher income limits for heads of household than for single filers, which means effective tax rates for HOH filers are also lower.

If the qualifying person is your child, you can only file as HOH if you are the custodial parent. The custodial parent is the one the child lives with for the greater number of nights of the year. If you have 50/50 custody of your child, the custodial parent is the one with the higher adjusted gross income (AGI), according to the IRS.

Children of Divorced Taxpayers

Many tax issues arise when you and a former spouse share children together. As explained in the previous section, a noncustodial parent cannot claim head of household (HOH) status.

Additionally, a noncustodial parent cannot claim their child for the purposes of the earned income tax credit (EIC), the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), or the child and dependent care credit.

The child tax credit usually defaults to the custodial parent. However, a noncustodial parent may claim their child as a dependent and receive this credit if the custodial parent signs IRS Form 8332, releasing the right to claim the child as a dependent. In 2024 and 2025, the credit is $2,000 per qualifying child.

Medical expenses for the child that the noncustodial parent pays can still be included in their medical expense deduction, even if the custodial parent claims the child as a dependent. Both parents can claim any medical expenses they paid for the child.

Alimony and Spousal Payments

Alimony was taxed differently before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. For divorces finalized by Dec. 31, 2018, alimony payments were deducted from taxable income by the payer and included in income by the recipient. For divorces finalized after Dec. 31, 2018, alimony payments are no longer deductible by the payer and are not included in income by the recipient. This new treatment is similar to child support payments.

Asset Transfers and Divisions

When you divorce, there is bound to be a transfer or division of assets between the spouses.

Sale of a Primary Home

The biggest item most spouses have to divide is the family home. If you sell your home as a result of your divorce, there are several things to keep in mind. If you sell your home before divorce while you're still filing taxes jointly, you can be exempt from up to a $500,000 gain on the sale of the house. This exemption is only for the primary home you have lived in for at least two of the past five years.

Each spouse is exempt from $250,000 of gain on the sale of a primary home. Therefore, if you are the sole owner of the house after the divorce and you subsequently sell the home, you will be limited in your exemption to a gain of $250,000. If you and your ex-spouse co-own the house after the divorce, and you sell the home subsequently, you will each be entitled to a $250,000 exemption on any gain.

Retirement Accounts Transfers

Your divorce agreement may require you to split your retirement savings with your ex-spouse. Cashing out your retirement account to pay your spouse at the time of your divorce would cause a taxable event.

Thankfully, the IRS allows a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) to limit the tax burden in this situation. A QDRO is a legal document, typically found in a divorce agreement, that recognizes that a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent is entitled to receive a predefined portion of the other spouse's individual retirement plan assets.

Update Your W-4 at Work

When you have a change in circumstances, such as a divorce, a marriage, or a new baby, it is always a good idea to look at your W-4 at work. Your W-4 determines your payroll withholdings and federal tax payments. Be sure to file a new one with your HR department that considers your new marital status.

The Bottom Line

Divorce has the potential to significantly impact your tax situation. Divorce laws vary considerably by state, so be sure to research any state-specific tax issues that might arise from your divorce. In addition, it is always best to consult with a tax attorney or certified public accountant (CPA) to discuss any issues specific to your tax situation.