Unlike alimony, child support alone is not taxable or deductible. Court orders that include spousal support or alimony, and child support, are treated as taxable income to the payee and tax deductible to the payer, if such orders are categorized as unallocated. When the order specifically allocates a particular amount as spousal support or alimony, and specifically allocates a particular amount as child support, only the amount allocated as spousal support or alimony is considered taxable income for the payee and tax deductible for the payer.

According to IRS Publication 504, in order for a payment to be considered alimony, it has to follow specific requirements. While there are some differences between alimony requirements for settlements finalized after 1984 and before 1985, there are general rules that apply to alimony regardless of when the divorce or separation took place. In order for payment to be considered alimony, the following has to be true:

• Payments are required by a divorce or separation instrument.
• Payment is made in cash, including checks or money orders.
• A joint tax return isn’t filed between the payer and recipient.
• The instrument doesn’t state otherwise (i.e., that the payment isn’t alimony).
• The payer and recipient aren’t members of the same household.
• Payments aren’t required after death of the recipient.
• Payment isn’t used for child support.

Yes. Spousal support, alimony pendente lite or alimony payments will no longer be deductible for settlement agreements that are entered after December 31, 2018.

According to the IRS, “If the amount of income tax withheld from your salary or pension is not enough, or if you receive income such as interest, dividends, alimony, self-employment income, capital gains, prizes and awards, you may have to make estimated tax payments.”

No. Property transfers as a result of divorce are not taxable income to the recipient and are not tax deductible to the payer. For example, if you make monthly payments to pay off your former spouse’s share of the equity in your home, those payments would not be tax deductible.