child expences

[johnb12]

I have a 14 Yr old son and pay child support for. my question is can i also claim extra food gas and clothing expences for him when he says with my every other weekend?

[tobee43]

what do you mean by extra???? it's included in your regular food expenses...so i wouldn't consider it as an extra.

it your food cost are reasonable it will not make a difference...actually ours was considered UNreasonable because it was so little....

[ccsjoe]

Hi johnb12,

For what purposes would you claim the expenses? Means Test? Schedule J?

Means test the expenses are IRS generated figures for the most part. Schedule J are your expenses now and going forward, your real numbers.

Regardless, you need to put down your real expenses (if he stays with you every other week than your expenses will reflect this) for each item. Take groceries. Figure out how much you've spent on groceries say the last 6 months, multiply by 2, divide by 12, voila. Thia should reflect equal periods of time when he's been with you. Same with gas and clothing, average it out, that is how much 1. you spent and how much 2. you will likely continue spending per month going forward.

[tobee43]

joe's got that correct and your son being 14...i know at the time our son was that age, i'd rather have only had to cloth my son than feed him...he ate 24/7....darn kids...

[johnb12]

Thanks for the answers It is for the schedule J

[ccsjoe]

Thanks for the answers It is for the schedule J

Then both tobee's and my answer apply. Your expenses are a rolling average and projection of what they will be, hence they will capture both your alone weeks as well as your "with child" weeks.