DISCLAIMER: Results depend on individual circumstances. Not all taxpayers qualify. We do not guarantee specific outcomes.
Innocent Spouse Relief
Are you being held responsible for tax debt caused by your current or former spouse? You may qualify for Innocent Spouse Relief to clear your name and your debt.
What is Innocent Spouse Relief?
When you file a joint income tax return, you and your spouse are jointly and individually responsible for the tax and any interest or penalty due. This means the IRS can come after you for the full amount, even if your spouse earned all the income. Innocent Spouse Relief provides you relief from additional tax you owe if your spouse or former spouse failed to report income, reported income improperly, or claimed improper deductions or credits.
Other Types of Spousal Relief
If you do not meet the strict requirements for traditional Innocent Spouse Relief, the IRS also offers:
- 1. Separation of Liability Relief: Allocates the understatement of tax plus interest and penalties between you and your former spouse.
- 2. Equitable Relief: If you do not qualify for the others, but it is unfair to hold you liable under all facts (e.g., domestic abuse cases).
Do You Qualify?
The IRS looks at several strict criteria to approve an Innocent Spouse claim.
Joint Return Filed
You must have filed a joint return which has an understatement of tax.
Spouse's Error
The understatement is solely attributable to your spouse's erroneous item.
Lack of Knowledge
You establish that at the time you signed the joint return you did not know, and had no reason to know, about the understatement.
Unfairness
Taking into account all the facts and circumstances, it would be unfair to hold you liable for the understatement of tax.
Protect Yourself from Unfair Tax Debt
Innocent Spouse Relief cases are highly factual and require careful legal framing. Let our experts build your case.