Here is the situation: we are not married (common-law) but have a small child born in Jan 2011. I know a couple automatically becomes common-law after they have lived 12+ months, or the moment a child is born. We have lived together for over two years and have never filed for joint income taxes as common-law couple, which I know according to the CRA definition is not right. We have not been on good terms for the past year, so for this year to file for 2011 tax returns it’s unlikely that we will file jointly. She has been insisting that she is a single mother as she took one year maternity leave to care for the baby for the entire year in 2011 (I also took time off and had been greatly involved in the child’s life), and I think she has been collecting CCTB and maybe other government benefits such as GST as a single parent. I know it’s wrong but I don’t want to argue with her.
I have read others’ posts that couples can be registered as “separated” for their civil status during the divorce process even living under the same roof, but how about their kids? Parents can live in separate rooms, but for tax purposes, who would claim the child as dependent? Money aside, I feel very uncomfortable if the mom claims as single parent, because if one day we go to court this would put me into a bad situation as if I have recognized her as the primary care giver. But I can’t stop anyone from doing that.
Does anyone have any such experience and dealing with CCRA?
Thanks a lot.
I have read others’ posts that couples can be registered as “separated” for their civil status during the divorce process even living under the same roof, but how about their kids? Parents can live in separate rooms, but for tax purposes, who would claim the child as dependent? Money aside, I feel very uncomfortable if the mom claims as single parent, because if one day we go to court this would put me into a bad situation as if I have recognized her as the primary care giver. But I can’t stop anyone from doing that.
Does anyone have any such experience and dealing with CCRA?
Thanks a lot.
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