How to File Taxes if You Don't Collect a Salary and Receive Only Child Support
Often, filing taxes may seem intimidating and confusing. However, the IRS rules are very clear when it comes to certain situations. For example, the rights of people who receive child support are well-defined.
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Instructions
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Evaluate Your Finances
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1
Look at your income from the previous year to determine where it came from.
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2
Skip to Step 3 if your income was from alimony and child support. If your income was from child support only and you had no other income, you do not need to file taxes. Child support does not count as earned income. Therefore, if you have no earned income, you do not need to file taxes.
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3
If your income consisted of both alimony and child support, check how much of your income was alimony income.
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4
If your alimony income is over $9,350, then you are required to file income taxes.
File Your Taxes
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5
Obtain Form 1040 from the IRS website or your local public library. (See References 1)
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6
Enter your alimony income on line 11.
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7
Follow the instructions for filling out the remaining parts of the form.
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8
File your taxes with payment (if necessary) to the correct IRS address. The address will be given to you on the form.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure that you report any alimony income on Form 1040 if it is higher than $9,350. You do not want to be penalized for underpayment of taxes.
