Your brand new tax return client has been receiving monthly support payments of $4,000 from her former husband since they were divorced in 2016. She also has custody of their daughter, who is 12. You review her divorce decree and note that it actually calls for two separate categories of payments adding up to the monthly $4,000 –

• $2,500 for “spousal support” [a/k/a “alimony”] and
• $1,500 for “child support.”

On a close reading you also notice this statement as to the “spousal support” amount: “However, when [their daughter] reaches age 18, the $2,500 per month shall be reduced to $1,750 per month.”

You advise your new client that she will have to include a total of $____ in her 2020 gross income by reporting it as “Alimony received” on Line 2a of Schedule 1 of Form 1040. State the dollar amount and, in 2-3 sentences, defend your answer.