Tax Relief - A Rescue To Ex-Spouse Tax Problems
Tax issues that arise from awful marriages can be put categorically under the "better or worse" in the marriage vows.
Finances are almost always the culprit that brings strife to married couples.
This is particularly true when spouses decide to file a joint tax return.
When the information given on the tax return is false, inaccurate or underestimated, the IRS historically holds both spouses liable for the resulting assessments.
The IRS will also forcefully require both spouses to pay the wrong amount if the relevant taxes were not paid.
However, that has changed.
The IRS, now, has a different view of the liability of joint filers.
The IRS spares the innocent spouse from paying the taxes owed to the government.
Innocent spouses are allowed to claim three kinds of tax relief: namely the Innocent Spouse Relief, Relief by Separation of Liability, and Equitable Relief.
These kinds of tax relief can greatly help you, especially when the IRS tracks you down for the tax liability of a former spouse.
You can avail this tax relief provided you meet all the following requirements: (1) you filed an erroneous joint return, (2) you weren't aware of those discrepancies, and (3) taking into account the situation, holding you liable for the tax would be unjust.
Once your application for tax relief has gone through their evaluation and passed, the IRS may either put aside any tax claim against you and place all the liability on your spouse as the sole debtor or split the tax into the two, where you pay one half of the amount due and your spouse pays the other half.
In rare cases, you can request equitable relief, which is another way of saying that it would be obviously unreasonable to pay the tax.
You must prove that you and your spouse did not do any fraudulent scheme, did not intend to evade taxes or commit fraud, did not pay the taxes and you didn't know what your spouse was doing.
As the IRS views equitable relief claims cynically, it is highly suggested to seek a professional to handle things for you.