Innocent Spouse

Tax relief for an innocent spouse or ex-spouse is available, however, understanding, complying and submitting a “Request for Innocent Spouse Claim” within the IRS guidelines is best handled by an experienced  Certified Tax Resolution Specialist. Claims must be submitted with-in a two year time frame from the start of the IRS collection activity.

Some of the qualifying conditions revolve around bank accounts and access to them, businesses that are operated separately and material benefits accrued from tax manipulations.  Other qualifiers are filing a joint return, a misrepresentation of taxes due by your spouse, no knowledge of the misrepresentations and other related circumstances.

Resolve Back Taxes By Filing An Innocent Spouse Claim with the IRS

Taxpayers often find themselves in trouble with the IRS because of their spouses or ex-spouse’s actions.

The IRS realizes that these situations do in fact occur.

If you qualify for innocent spouse relief, you may not have to pay IRS back taxes, interest, and penalties related to your spouse (or former spouse).

Once you file for an Innocent Spouse Claim, the IRS will send you a questionnaire for the purpose of verifying the validity of your story. Our expert team of Certified Tax Resolution Specialist can help you through the process of to make sure you meet the requirements.

IRS Guidelines for Innocent Spouse Tax Relief

If a taxpayer can prove they meet the IRS guidelines for innocent spouse tax relief,  they may not be subject to the taxes caused by their spouses or ex-spouses.

In order to help taxpayers that are being subjected to IRS problems as a result of their spouse’s actions, the IRS has come up with guidelines.

We can help you determine if you qualify for innocent spouse tax relief by helping you understand and meet these IRS guidelines.

If you had no idea about the financial activity of your spouse and how your spouse was manipulating the financial records, you can qualify for innocent spouse tax relief. This means:

You did not share bank accounts—you had no access to his/her account activity
Your spouse had a separate business that he/she operated independently
You did not benefit in lifestyle from the extra money that was a result of tax manipulation

How to qualify for Tax Relief as an Innocent Spouse

Our experienced Certified Tax Resolution Specialists can help you file for innocent spouse protection and dramatically increase your chances for qualifying for tax relief. In addition to taking over all communication with the IRS, we will help you show the IRS that you meet all of the following conditions:

You must have filed a joint tax return which has an understatement of tax.
The understatement of tax must be due to erroneous items of your spouse.
You must establish that at the time you signed the joint return, you did not know, and had no reason to know, that there was an understatement of tax.
Taking into account all of the facts and circumstances, it would be unfair to hold you liable for the understatement of tax.

Act Fast to Qualify for Innocent Spouse Tax Relief

To qualify, you must request IRS innocent spouse relief within 2 years after the date on which the IRS first began collection activity.

Innocent spouse qualification is a very detailed and fact specific petition, get it wrong and you may be subjecting yourself to criminal prosecution.  This is definitely something that we would NOT suggest that you tackle on your own.  If this is your situation, give us a call TODAY at 800-829-7483 or 800-TAX-SITE.   

For more on Innocent Spouse Relief, see Innocent Spouses FAQs

If you feel that you can handle this on you own but perhaps need some guidance, check out our DIY site for the

DIY Innocent Spouse Guide

If you feel like you’re in over your head and need representation, check out the link below.  There you will be able to reach out us for one of our Tax Resolution Specialists to take this burden off your hands