Beginning in 2019, the rule for reporting alimony paid as a deduction has changed.
- Deductions for alimony orders executed after December 31, 2018 have been eliminated.
- Recipients of alimony are no longer required to report the income on the tax return.
Alimony payments established before 2019
Alimony payments that are from orders established before January 1, 2019 and meet certain requirements can be claimed as an adjustment to income on your return.
The requirements are:
- The payment is in cash
- The instrument does not designate the payment as not alimony
- The spouses are not members of the same household at the time the payments are made. This requirement applies only if the spouses are legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance
- There is no liability to make any payment (in cash or property) after the death of the recipient spouse
- The payment is not treated as child support