<prompt> Human: The part that confuses me is on this site The spouses arent members of the same household when the payment is made This requirement applies only if the spouses are legally separated under a decree of divorce or of separate maintenance.;We are officially divorced with a decree we arent separated, and Ive been making payments through the NJ child support service, which also handles alimony. However we still live in the same house, in preparation to list it for sale, and will keep living in it until it sells, most likely past the end of 2017. Does the household requirement conflict with my ability to deduct alimony payments from my 2017 tax return?  <response>: Payments to your spouse while you are members of the same household are not alimony if you are legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance. A home you formerly shared is considered one household, even if you physically separate yourselves in the home. You arent treated as members of the same household if one of you is preparing to leave the household and does leave no later than 1 month after the date of the payment. 