Open TurboTax

Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
or and start working on your taxes
Close icon
Do you have a TurboTax Online account?

We'll help you get started or pick up where you left off.

cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Are legal fees transferable to another tax payer or able to claim in alternate years?

I received a tax letter for legal fees paid in 2018, for roughly $10,000 in relation to child and spousal support (not custody). 

Unfortunately, I did not earn any income for the year. The majority was put on credit. 

Am I able to claim this in another year? Or transfer it to a family member who helped pay for the legal fees (some but not most). 

Thank you

1 Reply

Are legal fees transferable to another tax payer or able to claim in alternate years?

Only legal fees related to s to collect (or establish a right to) a retiring allowance or pension benefit can be carried forward.

Fees to establish child and spousal support are claimed on Line 221 and cannot be carried forward or transferred.