| If you filed a joint tax return and the IRS accuses | | | | the income. |
| you and your spouse of fraud, you can qualify for | | | | 2. Get expert help understanding and meeting IRS |
| innocent spouse tax relief to avoid paying IRS | | | | guidelines. If you had no idea about the financial |
| back taxes, penalties and interest, not to mention | | | | activity of your spouse and how your spouse |
| doing hard time in federal prison on criminal tax | | | | was manipulating the books, you can qualify for |
| fraud and tax evasion charges. | | | | innocent spouse tax relief. This means: |
| In the tax relief game, innocent spouse tax relief | | | | - You did not share bank accounts-you had no |
| is as close as you'll get to that invaluable "get out | | | | access to his/her account activity |
| of jail free" card. But you have to act fast to | | | | - Your spouse had a separate business that he |
| qualify since a recent treasury ruling has upheld | | | | she operated independently |
| the 2-year deadline for taxpayers who must claim | | | | - You did not benefit in lifestyle from the extra |
| innocent spouse tax relief within 2 years of the | | | | money that was a result of tax manipulation |
| IRS's commencement of collection action. | | | | To claim protection, it's wise to consult with an |
| If you've got a tax-cheating spouse (or | | | | experienced tax attorney who can help you |
| ex-spouse), the IRS demands an immediate | | | | qualify for relief by showing the IRS that you |
| response on your part to defuse a deadly bomb | | | | meet all of the following conditions: |
| before it explodes. If you're an innocent spouse, | | | | - You must have filed a joint return which has an |
| here are expert tips to help you qualify for vital | | | | understatement of tax. |
| relief. | | | | - The understatement of tax must be due to |
| 1. Protect yourself and your family assets. When | | | | erroneous items of your spouse. |
| you and your spouse file a joint tax return, both | | | | - You must establish that at the time you signed |
| you and your spouse are "jointly and severally" | | | | the joint return, you did not know, and had no |
| liable for any taxes due. Many married taxpayers | | | | reason to know, that there was an |
| do this because of certain benefits this filing | | | | understatement of tax. |
| status allows. If you did so, you may be held | | | | - Taking into account all of the facts and |
| responsible for monies due, even if your spouse | | | | circumstances, it would be unfair to hold you liable |
| earned all of the income. And this is true even if a | | | | for the understatement of tax. |
| divorce decree states that your spouse will be | | | | - You must request IRS innocent spouse relief |
| responsible for any amounts due on previously | | | | within 2 years after the date on which the IRS |
| filed joint returns. | | | | first began collection activity. |
| However, if you qualify for innocent spouse tax | | | | If you are worried that the law might consider |
| relief, you may not have to pay the tax, interest, | | | | you a culpable party and you're in need of tax |
| and penalties related to your spouse (or former | | | | relief, you need to take action now. Once you file |
| spouse).For example, if it is later shown that one | | | | for an Innocent Spouse Claim, the IRS will send |
| spouse had unreported income, the other spouse | | | | you a questionnaire for the purpose of verifying |
| may try to escape civil and/or criminal liability for | | | | the validity of your story. A Certified Tax |
| the tax on that unreported income under the | | | | Resolution Specialist can help you through the |
| "innocent spouse" rule. To claim this protection, | | | | process of sharing your financial information in |
| the spouse could have reasonably known about | | | | innocent spouse cases. |