[Fran27]

We got the finalization paperwork today! But there is no mention of the fees we paid... We have a list of the agency fees somewhere though...

I'm wondering what will be required when we do our taxes? Do we just send copies of the judgment and the fee list? I know we could have applied for a temporaty SSN also, but I read the papers and it says we can't do it after finalization... but it's going to be a few months before we get the birth certificates, so I doubt they'll have their SSN before we file taxes.

So any idea how to proceed? I'm quite sure I filed for taxes with dh when I moved here before I got a SSN...

[mandirenee]

As for documentation for the adoption tax credit. You actually send NOTHING with your taxes. But you must have receipts from the agency, attorneys, etc. as backup in case of an audit.

We applied for a Adoption Tax Identification number prior to finalization so we could claim our son as a dependent.

I'm not sure if you can file for the Adoption Tax Credit until you have a SSN. You can however claim the child as a dependent with the Adoption Indeification number.

So try to get the birth certificates and SSNs before April 15th.

One thing I do know is you cannot electronically file with the adoption identification number, which seems silly. But you must mail.

Our attorney helped us get our birth certificates pushed through, so maybe you could ask for some help from your attorney. Our son was born in TX. It took about 2-3 months to get the birth certificate and only 1 month to get his SSN (but we went to the office to apply).

Good LUCK!!!!!

[aclee]

Originally Posted by Fran27

I know we could have applied for a temporaty SSN also, but I read the papers and it says we can't do it after finalization... but it's going to be a few months before we get the birth certificates, so I doubt they'll have their SSN before we file taxes.

Really?

We haven't finalized yet, and I thought that when we did, we would go that same day to get his social security number...now I realize, we wouldn't have his birth certificate either. Does the finalization paperwork work?

Should we get him a SS# now, so if we do finalize this year, we'll have it to file taxes with, or is the temp number only good till you finalize?

I have also heard about the other kind of number you can get for adopted children that someone else mentioned...ATF? ATN? Something like that...so you can file your taxes if you haven't gotten their social security numbers yet...

[JLW99]

Aclee, we're finalizing soon in MA (i hope), and our atty told us that most local SS offices require the birth certificate, although he's seen some go through with the finalization papers. For our son's adoption we needed the birth certificate for the SSN in 2005. Supposedly when you adopt in MA, the birth certificate comes from the Vital Stats Bureau in Boston, not the local town either, and they're backlogged 3-4 months right now. It's a long wait, but you can always file for an extension of your taxes if you think you won't make the April 15th deadline. We could end up doing that ourselves.... There is the ATIN that you can get prior to the SSN, to use on your taxes, but people who filed using the ATIN last year were not eligible for the stimulus check for their adopted child...only those who filed using a SSN got it.

[mandirenee]

Aclee, I think what Fran was referring to was the ATIN. There isn't a temporary SSN.

You should go ahead and apply for the ATIN so you can file your taxes with him as a dependent in case you don't finalize till 2009.

[Fran27]

Yes sorry I was referring to the ATIN.

I checked the SSA.gov website, and they seem to say that finalization paperwork should be enough? It's odd. I'll probably go this week to figure it out. It would be really nice if it worked!

[luckyshamrock]

Even though ATIN paperwork says it must be before finalization, I know people have been told they could still apply for it.
I highly recommned that everyone applies for the ATIN has soon as you have placement. You can use it for dependent and the tax credit. Once you get the SS#, you just send back a form with the SS#. ATIN are to be applied for before finalization nad can be used for 2 years even if you have finalized.
If you have an out of state adoption, SS# can take more time because your state has to verify the birth in the state of birth. Both of our daughter's SS# got stuck there.
Also, for tax credit you just need to keep your receipts. You can have your agency give you a detailed bill. We saved all receipts- gas, travel, food that dealt with the aodption. You can also use your credit card receipts or cancelled checks.

[shy_bear]

We finalized in April of 08. I got his birth certificate within 30 days by going down to the vital statistics office with all the finalization paperwork. He had a social security card that was in his old last name that was got for us by his cw so we could claim him last year, but I had to show his new bc and adoption paperwork to do the name change.