| Innocent spouse tax relief is available from the IRS if | | | | also damage your credit rating and any penalties or |
| you require tax debt relief from taxes and penalties | | | | interest will increase the original tax debt and will also |
| that were acquired from a joint tax return that you | | | | require payment. This is why it is so important to apply |
| filed with your spouse or ex-spouse. The IRS offers | | | | for innocent spouse relief if you qualify. |
| innocent parties a way to get out from under tax debt | | | | In order to qualify for innocent spouse tax relief, you |
| liability that is the result of mistakes or errors not made | | | | must meet some requirements. You have to have filed |
| by another party on a joint tax return. Innocent spouse | | | | a joint tax return which has an understatement of tax |
| relief is a good option for people who are burdened | | | | liability due to erroneous items of your spouse or |
| with tax debt through the fault of their spouse. The | | | | ex-spouse. You also have to prove that when you |
| IRS usually holds both spouses equally responsible for | | | | signed the joint return you were not aware of and had |
| what is filed on a joint tax return which means that all | | | | no reason to know that there was an understatement |
| taxes and penalties are the responsibility of both | | | | of tax or other error. You also have to show that it |
| parties regardless of who made a mistake. However, | | | | would be unfair for you to be held liable for the falsely |
| if you were not aware of the mistake or your spouse | | | | claimed exemptions or understatement of tax liability. |
| knowingly committed tax fraud without your | | | | You will not be eligible for innocent spouse relief if the |
| knowledge you can be relieved of the debt. | | | | IRS can prove that you and your spouse transferred |
| If you discover that you owe taxes or penalties | | | | property to one another as part of a fraudulent |
| because of your spouse and you were not aware of | | | | scheme. |
| the error but your spouse was, you can file IRS form | | | | Although many people dislike the IRS, it recognizes that |
| 8857 to ask for innocent spouse relief. If you were not | | | | there are some cases where it would not be fair to |
| a party to the intentional or unintentional under-reporting | | | | hold a spouse liable for their partner or ex partner’s |
| or erroneous reporting of income or of unqualified | | | | tax obligations, mistakes, or liabilities. You can file for |
| claimed deductions, you can file for innocent spouse | | | | Innocent Spouse Tax Debt Relief by filing the IRS form |
| relief. If you do qualify for relief but don't apply for it, | | | | 8857. If you feel as though you need to file for |
| you can still be subject to a federal levy of your | | | | innocent spouse relief, it is advisable to consult a tax |
| wages, bank accounts, or other assets that can be | | | | professional who is knowledgeable in IRS tax law and |
| seized to satisfy the tax debt. The IRS can even | | | | can advise you on your rights and the best course of |
| place a lien on your home to satisfy tax debt. This will | | | | action. |