BARTON JOSEPH

Child Support has not been able to be used as a tax exemption since January of 2018. Since then, any child support paid is taxed by the payer; and does not count as income to the payee. The Payee could effectively receive thousands in Child support, and qualify themselves and their child(ren) for all manner of State and Federal aid. Meanwhile, the payeur's income is significantly reduced, and no longer has the benefit of the tax exemption. Where we cannot change federal law, we can dictate that the payeur maintain the exclusive right to claim the child as a dependent on his or her taxes.