Note: The DearEsq free 'ask a lawyer' site is offered as a free informational service to the public and is not intended as legal advice. Laws vary from state-to-state, and in addition every situation is unique, and relevant facts may not be known. The answer to the question posed below may not apply to in your state or to your situation. For legal advice in your state and your situation you should consult with an attorney in your state who is familiar with the rules and laws in your state.
“I filed for divorce due to verbal abuse towards my daughter and myself and physical abuse by his drunkenness. Now I find out he did not report “cash” income he received from a lawn service he has been doing for a few years. He submitted our tax return online so I never seen the form to realize this. There is no signature on the form due to the online process.
What is my chances of holding him responsible to pay the IRS without me being involved as I had no idea he did this?”Ordinarily, both spouses are jointly and severally liable for any shortfall in tax payment on a joint return. The IRS has a provision for an “innocent spouse”, and you may or may not qualify. Here is the link to start the inquiry: www.IRS.gov
Question: The threshold inquiries are:The taxes owed are your spouse’s or ex-spouse’s. You are no longer married to that spouse. You thought your spouse would pay the taxes on the original return. You didn’t know about the items changed in the audit. You would suffer a financial hardship if you were required to pay the tax. You would not be able to pay for basic living expenses like food, shelter, and clothing. You did not significantly benefit (above normal support) from the unpaid taxes. You suffered abuse during your marriage.
Answer:
To find out if you qualify, you would file a Form 8857, Request for InnocentSpouse Relief.
