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February 15, 2025
Question

Alimony

  • February 15, 2025
  • 1 reply
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Are payments made directly to an ex spouse for a portion of military retirement pay considered alimony?

    1 reply

    February 15, 2025

    No.  This would be considered a retirement distribution made in installments. 

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    FappianoAuthor
    February 15, 2025

    Am I allowed to deduct it from my taxable income, and does she need to report it as earned income?   The divorce was in 1998.

    February 16, 2025

    You can deduct alimony paid to a former spouse as long the divorce or separation agreement was executed by December 31, 2018.

     

    Alimony payments resulting from agreements executed after that date can no longer be deducted due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that Congress signed into law on December 22, 2017. The same holds true for agreements modified after 2018 if the new version specifically states that the TCJA treatment of nondeductible alimony payments now applies.

    To enter your alimony payments:

    1. Open or continue your return.
    2. Navigate to the alimony section:
      1. TurboTax Online/Mobile: Go to alimony paid.
      2. TurboTax Desktop: Select Search Topics. Search for and select alimony paid.
    3. Answer Yes on the Did you pay alimony to a former spouse in 2024? screen and follow the onscreen instructions.

    For additional information click here.