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Practical manual for Income Tax 2021.

Table: Judicial separations, divorces or annulments (with children): Joint taxation and application of the minimum for descendants

IRPF declaration Children with the following requirementsTerms of the resolution or agreementWho applies it in the IRPF
Judicial separations, divorces or annulments (with children):  taxation in the IRPF
Option to file taxes jointly with children
  • Children under 18 years of age, except those who, with the consent of their parents, live independently of them and
  • Legally incapacitated adult children subject to extended or rehabilitated parental authority
Without guard and custody
shared
It corresponds to the parent who has been assigned custody of the children on the date the tax is due, that is, December 31.
With shared guard and custody
The option to pay taxes jointly with the children can be exercised by either of the two parents (but only one of them)
Minimum by
descendants
  • Children under 25 years of age
  • Children with disabilities, regardless of their age,

>That they meet the following requirements:

1) Who live with the taxpayer or are financially dependent on him

2) That they have not obtained income in the year exceeding 8,000 euros per year, excluding income exempt from personal income tax.

Coexistence
  • If custody is shared, the minimum will be prorated between the two parents.
  • If custody is not shared with the parent who has been granted custody or once it has been terminated, the parent with whom the children live will be entitled to the full minimum, except in the following case [economic dependency (*)] which will be shared between both parents.
Economic dependence Parents who do not live with their children, but provide them with support by court order, may choose to:
  • the application of the minimum for descendants,
  • or by the application of the treatment provided for by the Tax Law for the aforementioned alimony payments.

(*) If the application of the minimum for descendants is chosen, this will be prorated between both parents.

3) That children under 25 years of age or with disabilities, regardless of their age, do not file a IRPF declaration with income exceeding 1,800 euros. If the child declares jointly with one of the parents
  • If the child has an income of more than 1,800 euros, the parent with whom he or she pays joint taxes applies the full minimum for descendants and the other parent is in no case entitled to the minimum.
  • If the child has an income equal to or less than 1,800 euros, the minimum will be prorated in the case of shared custody or cohabitation with both parents or in the case of economic dependency when the parent does not choose to apply annual alimony payments.
If the child declares individually
  • If the child's income is equal to or less than 1,800 euros, taxpayers with the right to apply the minimum for descendants, provided that the remaining requirements are met.
  • If their income is greater than 1,800 euros, none of them can apply the minimum for descendants.