Question: I’m currently separated from my spouse, who owns his own business, and we are in the process of getting a divorce. I have always filed jointly with my husband and now the IRS is sending me notices stating I owe $77,000. I have no idea how they are coming up with this amount as my spouse was always responsible for making payments to the IRS.
Answer: You may be able to avoid this liability entirely under the IRS’s Innocent Spouse Relief rules. Under federal law if an income tax return is signed by both husband and wife, both spouses are 100% responsible for the taxes owed. However, the law permits special consideration where a spouse cannot be held responsible for actions that are attributable to the other spouse.
If you meet certain criteria you may be able to apply for innocent spouse relief 3 different ways. One example is, your spouse didn’t report all their income; and you were not aware of it and no reason to know about it when you signed the tax return; and it would be unfair to hold you liable for the taxes owed due to your spouse’s error. If you feel you were deceived by your spouse or tricked into signing a return you thought was correct this will help your case too. There are many other ways you may be eligible for relief under the IRS’s innocent spouse rules and we can help sort this out and determine the proper path for resolution.
We are experts in IRS tax problem resolution and help taxpayers with their IRS Problems every day. We know the “ins and outs” and know how to navigate the IRS maze. There is a solution to EVERY problem. Call us today for a FREE, no-obligation confidential consultation!
