Monday, April 30, 2018

Innocent Spouse Relief Houston TX Partners Claim Must Pass These Basic Requirements

By Ann Wallace


Virtually no American wants to receive unexpected mail from the Internal Revenue Service. It's never good news, and it can be scary. If you have gotten a notice that the IRS is reviewing your tax returns because they are suspicious that you and your spouse underestimated your tax obligation, you have a few options. First you have to understand the basics of the innocent spouse relief Houston TX husbands and wives apply for.

When couples file jointly, and the primary earner misleads the government about the amount of money earned, the other spouse may avoid being held responsible for the additional taxes, interest, and penalties owed if she qualifies under IRS guidelines. In order to qualify under the classic requirements, you must establish three things. First, you have to show that it was the other partner who reported incorrect information on his earnings.

You have to prove that, at the time you signed these returns, you did not know your husband had underestimated his taxes. There can be no circumstances under which you should have known. If there are, you won't qualify.

IRS officers will investigate your claims to determine whether or not they are valid. They base their decision on a number of things. Whether you directly, and substantially, benefited from your partner's misrepresentation will influence their decision. They also look at factors like whether the two of you are still married, are legally separated, or have gotten a divorce.

Once you have determined, in your mind, that you should qualify, you need to file form 8857. You need to do this carefully, with as much detail as possible. On the questions that ask for an explanation, you should give one fully with as much documentation attached as is pertinent. The more information you provide the better your chances that the Internal Revenue Service will approve your petition.

There are different types of relief, and you need to know which one best suits your case. The responses you give should reflect that. It's a good idea to include a personal letter outlining everything you have detailed in the form. You need to give specific reasons and examples of how and why you should not be held responsible for what your partner did.

Although the IRS has changed the deadline to file one of these petitions, the sooner you do it the better. The deadline was two years, but has been increased. You may get an indication that something is wrong if you get a notice that your tax returns are being investigated. This notice will tell you that the IRS suspects taxes have been underestimated.

Dealing with the IRS isn't something most people want to do. It is better to work with them however than to try and avoid a serious issue. You may not be held liable for your partner's misconduct, if can prove you had no knowledge of it and didn't benefit from it.




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