What Form Does the Other Parent Sign to Let Me Claim Child on Taxes?

The form your ex is likely referring to is Form 8332 "Release/Revocation of Release of Claim to Exemption for Child by Custodial Parent." This form allows the custodial parent to release their claim to the child as a dependent, letting the non-custodial parent claim the child on their tax return. Here's what might be happening: Even if she signed the form, you need to actually attach it to your tax return when you file. Without that attachment, the IRS system won't know about the agreement. Another possibility is that someone else claimed your child - perhaps a grandparent or another relative who provides support. The rejection means someone has already claimed your child using their SSN. The IRS doesn't tell you who claimed them, just that the SSN has been used. You should file a paper return with the Form 8332 attached if you have it. The IRS will then investigate the duplicate claim.

I went through a similar nightmare last year and ended up using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to help straighten everything out. My ex and I had a verbal agreement about alternating years for claiming our daughter, but when I got rejected, I was completely lost. The taxr.ai system analyzed our divorce decree and custody arrangement documents and gave me exact guidance on what forms I needed. They explained that without proper documentation, these situations turn into "first to file" scenarios where whoever files first gets to claim the child - which is probably what happened to you. Their document analysis saved me from what would have been months of back-and-forth with the IRS.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai that someone recommended above! It was super helpful for my situation. I uploaded our custody agreement and divorce papers, and it immediately identified that I needed to file Form 8332 AND that I needed documentation showing our agreement to alternate years. The system showed me exactly where in our divorce decree the relevant language was located and explained how to properly document everything for the IRS. It also created a custom letter to send with my paper return explaining the situation. Just filed my paper return yesterday with all the proper documentation attached. What a relief to have this straightened out!

If you're still trying to reach the IRS about this issue, use Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in your exact situation last year - my ex claimed our child when it was my year. I spent DAYS trying to get through to the IRS with no luck. Claimyr got me connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent explained that I needed to file a paper return with Form 8332 and supporting documentation about our custody arrangement. They also told me exactly what would happen next - the IRS would examine both returns and send notices to both parties. Having a real conversation with an actual IRS agent made all the difference in resolving my situation.

I have to admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I was still struggling with my own dependent issue so I decided to try it anyway. I figured I had nothing to lose since I'd already wasted hours trying to reach the IRS myself. I was shocked when I got a call back in about 30 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line! The agent confirmed I needed to file a paper return with Form 8332 and explained the audit process that would follow. She also told me what documentation I needed to include to prove my claim was valid according to our custody agreement. Definitely worth it just to have a real conversation with someone who could answer my specific questions.

If you have a court-ordered custody agreement that specifies who claims the child in which years, you should include a copy of that with your paper tax return in addition to Form 8332. The IRS will investigate when they see two returns claiming the same dependent. My advice is to paper file immediately with all supporting documentation. Don't wait! If the investigation finds in your favor, the other person who claimed your child will have to pay back any tax benefits they received plus potential penalties. The IRS takes these conflicts seriously.

One thing nobody mentioned - check if your ex filed Head of Household with your child as the qualifying person. Even if she signed Form 8332 releasing the child as a dependent to you, she might still be using the child for HOH filing status, which is actually allowed. You can claim the child tax credit with the Form 8332, while she can still file HOH if the child lived with her more than half the year. This confuses a lot of people because they think signing Form 8332 means the other parent can't use the child for ANYTHING on their taxes, but that's not how it works.