{"id":5841,"date":"2022-06-27T18:49:48","date_gmt":"2022-06-27T18:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/201tax.com\/?page_id=5841"},"modified":"2025-03-31T13:29:12","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T13:29:12","slug":"innocent-spouse-relief","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/201tax.com\/innocent-spouse-relief","title":{"rendered":"Innocent Spouse Relief"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ back_image=”701″ back_repeat=”no-repeat” back_position=”center center” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ el_id=”abtnew1″ css=”.vc_custom_1583820797466{padding-top: 55px !important;padding-bottom: 55px !important;}”][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-xsdn” heading_semantic=”div” text_font=”font-127393″ text_size=”fontsize-883462″ text_weight=”500″ text_height=”fontheight-700310″ uncode_shortcode_id=”158675″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette”]Innocent Spouse Relief[\/vc_custom_heading][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ el_id=”abtnew4″ row_name=”founder”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-jevc” heading_semantic=”div” text_font=”font-127393″ text_size=”fontsize-577954″ text_weight=”400″ text_height=”fontheight-169112″ uncode_shortcode_id=”684447″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette”]What is innocent spouse relief?[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_separator sep_color=”color-111432″ icon_position=”left” el_width=”90px” el_height=”8px”][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][vc_column_text el_id=”biobody” uncode_shortcode_id=”154571″]Innocent spouse relief is an IRS process that permits persons to avoid paying extra tax, interest, and penalties if their spouse or ex-spouse failed to declare income, erroneously reported income, or incorrectly claimed tax deductions or credits.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image media=”5842″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” media_width_pixel=”502″ uncode_shortcode_id=”317500″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”3″ back_color=”color-159111″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ el_id=”abtnew4″ row_name=”founder” uncode_shortcode_id=”150924″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette”][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”p” text_font=”font-127393″ text_size=”fontsize-577954″ text_weight=”400″ uncode_shortcode_id=”131359″]Who needs innocent spouse relief?[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_separator sep_color=”color-111432″ icon_position=”left” el_width=”90px” el_height=”8px”][vc_column_text el_id=”biobody” uncode_shortcode_id=”142147″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette” text_color_solid=”#ff0000″ border_color_type=”uncode-palette” border_color_solid=”#ff0000″]Married couples can opt to file their income tax returns jointly or independently under current federal tax legislation. What you and your spouse or ex-spouse decide is critical. For example, if a married couple fails to file a joint tax return, numerous sections of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) severely limit or totally eliminate various tax benefits.<\/p>\n

However, filing a combined tax return when married might have unintended consequences. This is because the IRS can pursue either spouse for any unpaid taxes or failure to pay taxes that appear on the return.<\/p>\n

This policy can predictably lead to unfairness. Assume that one spouse engages in illegal or illicit behaviour without the knowledge of the other spouse and fails to declare any money earned as a result of the illegal behaviour on the joint return. If a joint return has been filed, the IRS can (and frequently does) pursue both spouses for unpaid taxes linked to the illegal income.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re going through a similar situation, you might want to acquire an innocent spouse relief program.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”3″ back_color=”accent” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ el_id=”abtnew4″ row_name=”partner” uncode_shortcode_id=”373363″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette”][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-jevc” heading_semantic=”div” text_font=”font-127393″ text_size=”fontsize-577954″ text_weight=”400″ text_height=”fontheight-169112″ uncode_shortcode_id=”172778″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette”]How does innocent spouse relief work?[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_separator sep_color=”color-111432″ icon_position=”left” el_width=”90px” el_height=”8px”][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][vc_column_text el_id=”biobody” uncode_shortcode_id=”855224″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette” text_color_solid=”#ff0000″ border_color_type=”uncode-palette” border_color_solid=”#ff0000″]When you file a joint tax return, both spouses are liable for the taxes due. It doesn\u2019t matter who earned what money. In order for one of the spouses to get out of that liability, they need to prove innocent spouse.<\/p>\n

There are several ways you can do this. One is by proving that the other spouse did something illegal or erroneous and you had no knowledge. The other thing is proving you did not sign the return, that they signed it for you, and you never met the tax preparer. The third method is proving physical or mental abuse and that you had no option but to sign the tax return.<\/p>\n

This is something you should look at if you\u2019re ever going through a divorce or you\u2019ve been divorced and you\u2019re being stuck with a liability from your ex; you want to see if you don\u2019t have to pay it.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”3″ back_color=”color-159111″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ el_id=”abtnew4″ row_name=”founder” uncode_shortcode_id=”150924″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette”][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”p” text_font=”font-127393″ text_size=”fontsize-577954″ text_weight=”400″ uncode_shortcode_id=”565495″]Do I qualify for innocent spouse relief?[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_separator sep_color=”color-111432″ icon_position=”left” el_width=”90px” el_height=”8px”][vc_column_text el_id=”biobody” uncode_shortcode_id=”188965″]Each case is unique, but you may be eligible for innocent spouse relief if you were unaware of the tax return that resulted in the extra taxes, penalties, and interest. The following are a few of the requirements for innocent spouse relief:<\/p>\n