Legal News

Co-parenting is more than just arranging where the children stay

What about the kids?

That is usually the first concern when couples with children break up.

Co-parenting is one of the options.
This is often chosen if there was already a good relationship between the parents and the children before the break-up, and if both parents provided about the same amount of care for the children before the break-up.

The far-reaching tax implications of co-parenting are often forgotten. After all, the parent who is responsible for the children always enjoys a tax benefit in the form of an increase in the tax-free allowance. But this only applies for the parent with whom the children have their tax residence.

In the case of co-parenting, however, this is mostly not a fair arrangement, as, in co-parenting, the children stay with one parent as much as with the other, but only the parent with whom the children are registered enjoys the full tax benefit.

Parents should thereby also consider whether they also want a co-parenting tax regime.

The answer to this is much more complex, because you then have to take several elements into account:

• How many children are there?
• Does one of the parents pay maintenance?
• Is one of the parents single or is there already a new partner?
• …

You don't have to find all this out yourself.
Defensis listens to your situation, and calculates the tax consequences of the choices you wish to make.
We will assist you with advice and help you reach a fair settlement.
 

Angela Spitali

aspitali@defensis.be

+ 32 (0)2 892.60.76 (direct line)

+ 32 (0)2 892.60.70 (secretariat)