IRS Innocent Spouse Relief
You may have chosen your spouse, but that doesn’t mean you have to choose their back taxes, too. With Innocent Spouse Relief, you can stay happily married while separating yourself from their tax debt.
Less Than 2 Minutes Could Save You Thousands.
What is IRS Innocent Spouse Relief?
There are very few instances where the IRS offers total tax debt forgiveness to a taxpayer. One of them is through Innocent Spouse Relief. Under certain circumstances, the IRS will essentially erase your debt. You must prove that your spouse, or former spouse, failed to report or underreported income without your knowledge, or they fraudulently claimed deductions or credits. If you are still married to your spouse, it can be difficult to prove that you had no knowledge of the wrongdoing, especially if you signed the return. In many Innocent Spouse Relief cases, the parties are no longer together.
There are three other forms of spousal tax relief available, including:
Separation of Liability Relief
The IRS basically splits the tax liability between you and your spouse. You will only be responsible for the portion allocated to you.Injured Spouse Relief
If your refund is taken to satisfy your spouse’s debt (typically child support), you may be able to get your money back through an injured spouse claim.Equitable Relief
This is typically requested when you are ineligible for the other types of spousal relief. The IRS must agree that it would be unfair to hold you liable for your spouse’s tax debt.
If you’re facing unaffordable tax debt due to your spouse’s negligence, give Tax Defense Network a call. We can help you determine which of the various tax relief options are right for you.
Innocent Spouse Relief Requirements
Like any other tax debt relief program, there are certain qualifications you must meet in order to receive Innocent Spouse Relief. Per the IRS, you may not be responsible for your spouse’s or former spouse’s taxes if all of the following are true:
You filed a joint return for the year(s) in question
The tax liability resulted from erroneous items of the person with whom you filed the joint return (like unreported income or an incorrect deduction, credit, or basis)
You can show that you did not participate or possess any knowledge of the existence of the understated tax existed
Taking all facts and circumstances into account, it would be unfair to hold you responsible for the tax debt
You and your spouse (current or former) have not transferred any property to one another in an effort to defraud the IRS
You must also provide the IRS with adequate information to prove your case before it will grant relief. It is important not to embellish or falsify any information on your application, as this could result in penalties for perjury. At Tax Defense Network, our qualified tax professionals can file an IRS Innocent Spouse Relief request on your behalf, ensuring all information is accurate and no important details are left out.
