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We launched our updated 2018 Kansas Child Support Calculator on January 1st.  The 2018 updates bring about some tax updates that may affect your case and we've made some user interface improvements as well.  Our tool was very fast before, but we optimized it even further for a better user experience.  We know how important usability on mobile devices is to you, so we put extra effort into enhancing the user experience.

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That's a great question!  As far as I'm aware, either parent would then be able to claim the child care tax credit.  However, I might point out that the credit is based on taxable income.  As income increases, the credit decreases to a minimum value.  Therefore, I might suggest the lower income parent pay for child care.
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Thank you kindly for your reply Guru!  I have shared custody 50/50 with my kids.  In that case, which parent should pay for child care?  Can both parents then claim the child care tax credit?
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The first thing you probably want to do is use software.  efamilytools.com has a great calculator and it's free.


Line D.5 is each parents cash payment toward child care.  So far so good.  Now, as some are aware, there is the federal child care tax credit that actually refunds a portion of expenses for child care.  The amount refunded as a tax credit is based on the taxable income (not the gross income) of the parent and the residency of the child.  Only the parent who has residency of the child receives the child care tax credit regardless of who pays for it.  So your ex may receive the credit, but you will not when you do your taxes.


The tax credit has the effect of reducing the payment for child care entered on line D.5.  The reduced payment means that parent's child support obligation actually increases slightly.


In your case, depending on income, it might work best for your ex to pay for all of the child care which would increase your child support payment to her slightly.  However, the child care tax credit would be maximized and both of you would then benefit.
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I'm trying to fill out a child support worksheet and I'm stumped on what to put in block D-5, work-related child care costs formula Amt. - (Amt. × %) for each child care credit. What does this mean? My ex and I have agreed to split daycare expenses 50/50 but is that not possible? This part of the form is confusing...
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General Discussions / Re: Impact on Child Support, when Payee is going out of JOB
« Last post by WillC on October 16, 2017, 10:52:43 PM »
If she was awarded a QDRO from the 401k, it is still her money, and if you try to rollover your account there should be a question regarding if you are aware that one exists, and you should not be allowed to take any of your funds until they have split the account between the two of you. It is somewhat to your benefit to have her sign it so it can be turned in and the funds separated.
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Taxes and Financing / Re: For the Love Of GOD help me! tax questions for an expert.
« Last post by WillC on October 16, 2017, 10:26:08 PM »
Hassume-
A flex spending account offers an elective pre-tax contribution to an account for may things such as insurance and child care expense. In general, you don’t see a flex account used for insurance premiums, but for out of pocket costs associated to the insurance, such as copay and deductibles. Typically pre-tax premiums are due the the employer establishing a section 125 plan that allows for their share of insurance to be tax exempt. Daycare is also separate, but inclusive, of a flex plan. There is an annual limit of $5,000 than can be utilized in a flex for daycare, and shows on the w2, as this also impacts the amount that applies for purposes of daycare credit on the tax return.

Since a flex account is on a pre-tax basis, the real savings to the individual is both the income tax rates, as well as savings on social security and Medicare paid in from the employee share. This is 7.65% up to the SS wage base limit, and no limit on the Medicare portion. To answer your question in that regard, it will really depend on the total wages, however, since these are elective contributions to a flex plan, it does not change the gross figure for determining support as far as I’m aware, but I do believe this is a consideration for any tax adjustment impact if this becomes a matter, but can honestly get difficult to figure.

I would also assume that since Kansas looks at time spent with each parent for purposes of determining any adjustment, that may be part of the reason for not wanting to allow you to have time during the day, as my guess is this helps limit the time adjustment impact. Just my opinion from looking at this from the outside.
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Kansas Child Support Guidelines / Re: Negative Child Support Obligation
« Last post by Guru on October 09, 2017, 09:49:19 PM »
It's hard to tell exactly why this might occur unless you know what's included in the rest of the worksheet.  Are there expenses in section E?  The way shared residency is calculated, only one parent pays, so I'm a little confused.  Can you share some more details?


What software has been used to create the worksheet?  In general, a negative amount on line F6 would simply be ignored, but it should be equal and opposite for each parent.  For instance if parent A shows positive $213 (paying), then parent B would be ($213) (receiving). 
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Kansas Child Support Guidelines / Negative Child Support Obligation
« Last post by Valv30 on October 04, 2017, 09:23:58 PM »
Hi! I hope somebody can amswer a question for me.  I am confused about the results of the worksheet.  On line F6, it has a negative amount for me, (213). I pay direct expenses ans health.  I also earn more.  My ex has a positive number though I can't recall it right now and son't have the sheet in front of me.  What does this mean?  Does my ex pay 213/month or is that a wash and neither pays? He has been paying me each month since the hearong in March and this month stopped citing the worksheet actually shows neither pays the other.  Just trying to get clarification. Also we have shared custody.
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General Discussions / Re: When child turns 18?
« Last post by Guru on October 02, 2017, 09:25:19 PM »
Many if not most child support orders will require child support to continue until the child turns 18 or when the child is finished with high school, whichever is later.  However, as you are finding out, the state needs to confirm the child has not graduated early, dropped out, or otherwise.  So, the certification of attendance is required.  I suppose if this form is not filled out in a timely manner, child support will cease.


This is just my take, but if support does cease and then court action ensue due to the failure of the required party to submit the form, I would definitely request all legal fees be paid by said party.  To avoid any such hassles, you may want to make some phone calls and make sure support stays active.
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