If my divorce was in 2009, why isn't my alimony being used as a deduction?

To qualify for the alimony paid deduction:

 - You must be divorced or legally separated from the spouse to whom you make the payments, and the year of the decree must be before 2019.

 - You, your spouse, or former spouse cannot be members of the same household at the time you make the alimony payments.

 - Your spouse or former spouse must include the alimony payments or separate maintenance payments as income on his or her return.

 - You must pay the alimony within the year you're taking the deduction.

Please follow the steps below to make sure your entries are correct:

1. Sign in to TurboTax and open or continue your return.
2. Select Federal from the left menu.
3. Go to Deductions and Credits.
4. Scroll down to Other Deductions and Credits.
5. Scroll down to Alimony Paid
6. Answer Yes on the Did you pay alimony to a former spouse in 2020? screen and follow the onscreen instructions.