Is it fair to have to pay for the sins of your spouse?

Two main causes: (a) Kept in the dark or (b) audit of spouse’s business

Are you an unaware spouse?

Are you a current or ex-spouse who was kept in the dark about your partner’s tax bills? Even if you signed your tax returns, you still may have had no idea that taxes weren’t being paid. After all, if someone hides all tax bills and notices from the IRS and claims that any tax bills were paid, it could take years for you to realize that you have a big problem. Many times our clients hire us after they found out by seeing a federal tax lien on their credit report or…worse…by having the IRS levy their bank accounts or levy their wages. We know what that’s like.

We understand exactly how something like this could occur. And…add in the turmoil of a marriage that is, at best, distressed, or, at the other end of the spectrum, one that ended in a painful, seemingly never-ending trips to family court, and well, we understand what you may be feeling. With everything that you’re dealing with, you need this IRS problem gone!

Or…did your spouse’s business get audited?

If you file a joint tax return, and your spouse owns a business, and if an audit of that business occurs, it is very likely that you will become just as liable for any additional tax debt that your spouse’s business caused. Of course, this creates enormous strain on even a strong marriage. We know the anger and resentment this delicate situation can cause and work hard to remove the source of distress.

It doesn’t do a couple any good to have both spouses of them liable for a tax debt. So sometimes, it is amazing helpful to keep one spouse’s credit record “clean,” through an innocent spouse claim, while we negotiate the liable spouses ability to pay. If one spouse is “clean,” then marital assets can be better protected from seizure action from the IRS. That’s a wonderful thing!

A tax firm that gets it.  

The great news relief may be available. But is it available in your circumstances? Perhaps. The best way to find out is through a free, totally confidential consultation. Either in person, by phone, or video conference. Feel free to tell us your frustrations. We’d love to hear your story and see if we can help. If Innocent Spouse/Injured Spouse/Equitable relief doesn’t apply, we’ll tell you about all the other options we’ve used to put our clients tax problems in the past.