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