turbotax file extension married filing jointly

If you're married and filing your taxes jointly with your spouse, you may be wondering what happens if one of you incorrectly reports items on your tax return. Unfortunately, this can lead to a situation where you owe more in taxes than you should, or even worse, the IRS comes after both of you for unpaid taxes. In these situations, innocent spouse relief can provide a way out.

To qualify for innocent spouse relief, you must meet certain requirements. First and foremost, your filing status must be 'married filing jointly.' This means that you and your spouse filed your taxes together, reporting your income and deductions as a joint entity.

If an incorrect report is made on the tax return, it can lead to issues with the IRS, such as owing more in taxes than expected. In these cases, innocent spouse relief can excuse one of the spouses from paying additional taxes due to the improper reporting by the other partner. This means that if your spouse incorrectly reported income or deductions without your knowledge, you may not be responsible for paying those additional taxes.

It's important to note that even after a divorce or legal separation has occurred, the IRS can still pursue both parties to cover tax fees incurred while they were married. This is because spouses who file jointly are considered jointly and severally liable, meaning that both parties are equally responsible for any taxes owed.

Innocent spouse relief provides a way out of this situation by excusing one of the spouses from paying interest, taxes, and additional penalties on deductions, items, credits, or income that was wrongly reported. To qualify for this relief, you must have filed taxes as 'married filing jointly,' been unaware of your partner's improper reporting, be approved by the IRS, and requested relief within two years of the IRS's attempted collection of taxes.

If you find yourself in a situation where your spouse has improperly reported items on their tax return, don't panic. Innocent spouse relief can provide a way out, allowing one of you to avoid paying additional taxes due to separation, divorce, or improper reporting by the other partner. To learn more about innocent spouse relief and how it works, continue reading.

In summary, innocent spouse relief can excuse a current or former spouse from the responsibility of paying additional taxes due to separation, divorce, or improper reporting by the other partner. If you're facing this situation, don't hesitate to reach out to the IRS for guidance on how to proceed.

Turbotax file extension married filing jointly