| If you are going to receive Innocent Spouse Tax | | | | the others, since you might not be able to apply in that |
| Relief, you must be sure your filing is done absolutely in | | | | tax year again. |
| compliance to Internal Revenue Service | | | | Form 8857 will have some personal questions to which |
| requirements. If your request is turned down, you will | | | | you need to respond honestly. Some of the |
| not be able to apply for innocent spouse relief again in | | | | questions may be uncomfortable, but you must |
| that tax year. You need to understand all the | | | | answer all as thoroughly as possible if you wish to |
| implications of filing for innocent spouse relief and be | | | | have a chance to qualify. In making your application, |
| able to document that you meet the qualifications. | | | | be certain to emphasize why, specifically, you qualify |
| There is now only one Internal Revenue Service form | | | | It is also important to include a letter with form 8857, |
| that you need to file for separation of liability, equitable | | | | explaining any details that you felt were left out by the |
| relief, and innocent spouse relief. That is Internal | | | | format of the questionnaire. This is no clear-cut |
| Revenue Service form 8857. Internal Revenue | | | | process for granting innocent spouse relief, so you |
| Service form 1250 is not required any longer. You | | | | need to take the opportunity to expound upon why |
| can apply for more than one type of relief, so apply | | | | you qualify for this assistance. Be thorough and |
| for every relief category for which you feel you | | | | articulate and you can do yourself some real good. |
| qualify. Even if you do not meet the qualifications for | | | | Innocent spouse relief is handled on a case-by-case |
| one category, the Internal Revenue Service may | | | | basis. So the pretext of simple circumstances may |
| approve you for another. Applying under all the | | | | not be enough. The Internal Revenue Service likes as |
| categories you can gives you an option for denial in | | | | much detail as possible when deciding these cases. |