If your joint tax refund was reduced or taken because of a debt that belongs only to your spouse or former spouse, you may be eligible for Injured Spouse Relief. This can apply when a refund is used to pay certain past-due obligations, such as back taxes, child support, or student loans that are not your responsibility.
Injured Spouse Relief is different from Innocent Spouse Relief. Injured Spouse Relief generally applies when your share of a joint refund is withheld because of your spouse’s separate debt. Innocent Spouse Relief, on the other hand, involves situations where you are being held responsible for a tax issue connected to a joint return.
At Taylor Tax, we can review your situation, help determine whether you may qualify, and guide you through the relief process. Our goal is to help protect your rightful portion of a refund and explore any available IRS relief options that may apply to your case.
Filing a joint tax return can offer benefits, but it can also create shared responsibility for taxes, interest, and penalties. In some cases, one spouse may be held accountable for tax problems caused by the other spouse, including unreported income, incorrect deductions, or improper credits.
Even after a divorce, the IRS may still hold both individuals responsible for tax amounts due on a previously filed joint return, regardless of what a divorce agreement states. If you are being asked to pay for a tax issue caused by your current or former spouse, you may have options.
We provide thoughtful, confidential support to help determine whether you may qualify for Innocent Spouse Relief or another form of tax relief. Our team can help review your circumstances, explain the available relief options, and assist with communicating with the IRS to pursue the most favorable resolution possible.
There are several types of spouse-related relief available, and we can help you understand which option may best fit your situation.
By requesting innocent spouse relief, you can be relieved of responsibility for paying tax, interest, and penalties if your spouse did something wrong on your tax return.
Under this type of relief, you divide the additional tax owed from your joint return, plus penalties and interest, between you and your spouse (or former spouse).
If you do not qualify for innocent spouse relief or separation of liability, you may still be relieved of responsibility for tax, interest, and penalties through equitable relief.
The Freedom of Information Act, often called FOIA, allows taxpayers to request access to certain records the IRS has on file. Reviewing your IRS file can be an important first step when addressing a tax issue, especially if you are unsure what the IRS has recorded, assessed, or received.
Having a clear picture of your IRS records can help identify missing returns, outstanding balances, notices, penalties, account activity, and other important details. It can also help determine what information the IRS may not yet have, which can be just as important when deciding how to move forward.
At Taylor Tax, we can assist with requesting your IRS file and reviewing the information once it is received. We will explain the details in clear, understandable language and help recommend a practical plan for addressing your tax matter with confidence.
If you have one or more past-due tax returns, taking action is an important step toward resolving the issue. Even if you are unable to pay the full balance right away, filing missing returns can help reduce further complications and may open the door to payment options or other relief programs.
Failing to file can lead to additional penalties, interest, IRS notices, collection activity, liens, levies, or other enforcement actions. In many cases, the longer returns remain unfiled, the more difficult the situation can become.
We help clients gather the necessary information, prepare accurate past-due returns, and get back into compliance. Once your missing returns are filed, we can also help you explore options such as payment arrangements or, when appropriate, an Offer in Compromise.
The IRS generally requires all required returns to be filed before it will consider many resolution options, including payment plans or relief from certain collection actions. We are here to help you take the next step with clarity, care, and dependable support.