TAX DEDUCTIONS ON ALIMONY

Alimony, also known as spousal support, provides the lower-income spouse with money for living expenses over and beyond child support.

Alimony payments are deductible if:

- your payments are in cash, check, or money order

- the alimony is required by a divorce or separation instrument

- the payment is beyond other obligations related to the divorce

- you and your (ex) spouse are not members of the same household

- you and your (ex) spouse do not file a joint return

NOTE: If you owe both alimony and child support and pay less than the required amount, payments are applied to child support first. Once this obligation is met, the remaining funds are applied to alimony.