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ARTICLE · 04 JUNE 2024

Innocent v. Injured Spouse Relief: A Guide For Navigating Complex Tax Issues After Marital Changes

Plunkett & Cooney
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Going through a marital separation or divorce is challenging enough without the added complexity of unanticipated tax issues.

United StatesTax
Joseph A. Peterson
Joseph A. Peterson

Going through a marital separation or divorce is challenging enough without the added complexity of unanticipated tax issues.

Unfortunately, these problems can arise, particularly when dealing with joint tax filings from previous years.

If you find yourself facing unexpected tax liabilities due to actions taken by your spouse or ex-spouse, you might be eligible for what's known as innocent spouse relief or injured spouse relief. While both sound similar, they accomplish very different things.

What Does Filing Jointly Mean?

Newly married couples often choose to file their tax returns jointly. A joint return combines the spouses' separate incomes, exemptions and deductions to determine the couple's "joint" tax liability. Filing jointly can provide substantial tax savings, assuming each spouse is complete and honest about his or her respective reporting obligations.

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