Exploring the Areas Where a Partner Can Get IRS Innocent Spouse Relief

The marriage union has some legal benefits, as the couple can file for a joint tax return, which helps the spouse reduce the tax bill. However, with the marriage and joint filing also comes the previous tax debt of one spouse, which the other doesn’t know.

In that case, the IRS has a provision allowing one of the spouses to file for an innocent spouse relief program that will benefit the individual to appeal as they are unaware of the existing tax debt, thus preventing oneself from the consequences of another spouse’s error.

In this scenario, one can get help from a tax lawyer in San Diego or elsewhere who can understand the entirety of the problem, help a person deal with the issues, help the innocent spouse address the challenges, and reduce the tax burden on themselves.  

1.      The Need for Innocent Spouse Relief

The government established Innocent Spouse Relief to protect taxpayers from paying spouse-generated tax debts they knew nothing about. According to standard IRS regulations, combined tax filers bear full responsibility for tax debts even if their spouse earned the money or made the incorrect entries. The law acknowledges that spouses should not face such substantial burdens of joint taxation responsibilities when they lack awareness about inaccurate information.

2.      Types of Relief Spouses Can Get From the IRS

Now, specific objectives need to be cleared to relieve tax debts, and under each of those proceedings, one can have the relevant fulfillment for the IRS. Here are specific categories under which a spouse can apply depending on their situation, and through that, one can maintain and navigate the IRS for tax relief.

·         Innocent Spouse Relief (IRC 6015(b)): An innocent tax relief is something that a spouse will get when they are unaware of the tax debt of the partner and have made the mistake of joint filing. In that state, the IRS offers this provision to the individual who can come out of the tax burden and avoid the penalties that might get levied on the other partner.

·         Liability Relief for Separation (IRC 6015 (c)): Here, the spouses who are separated or widowed can legally divide the tax debt, and the relief program will be set accordingly based on how much each person owes to the IRS.

·         Equitable Relief (IRC 6015(f)): It’s for those individuals who have enough proof for the tax relief but don’t fit into the first two categories. Here, one can get help from the tax attorney from Fremont, CA, or from another location who can manage things properly, help the client access the relief program, and reduce the tax burden.

3.      Scenarios Where Innocent Spouse Claims Get Triggered

Tax benefit claims are possible when one spouse hides the freelance income or income from other sources. Later, while filing for a joint tax return, that amount gets subjected to the tax dues, which becomes a problem for a spouse unaware of the taxes.

These ways allow an innocent spouse to get tax relief if unaware of the partner’s tax debt.