Houston, Texas Innocent Spouse Tax Relief Attorney
When a married couple files a joint return, the resulting tax balance is a joint and several liability, meaning that each person is individually liable for the full amount due. The IRS recognizes certain circumstances in which one spouse should not be held liable for the tax liability of the other. Such claims are raised under the "innocent spouse relief" defense. At Hammond Law Group, PLLC, we will evaluate your situation to determine if you qualify for innocent spouse relief.
How do I qualify?
There are three types of relief from joint and several liability for spouses who filed joint returns:
- Innocent Spouse Relief provides you relief from additional tax you owe if your spouse or former spouse failed to report income, reported income improperly, or claimed improper deductions or credits.
- Separation of Liability Relief provides for the allocation of additional tax owed between you and your spouse or former spouse because an item was not reported properly on a joint return. The tax allocated to you is the amount for which you are responsible.
- Equitable Relief may apply when you do not qualify for innocent spouse relief or separation of liability relief for something not reported properly on a joint return. You may also qualify for equitable relief if the correct amount of tax was reported on your joint return but the tax remains unpaid.
The IRS does not want to punish innocent spouses for tax evasion, tax fraud, or other tax crimes. Our firm will make your case to the government that the liability should be assessed solely against the spouse responsible for the unreported income or false deductions. Contact us for a free consultation to evaluate your case.
Because innocent spouse relief is a complex area of tax law which few accountants and financial planners understand, it is important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your rights.
Contact the Hammond Law Group, PLLC to schedule a free consultation at our Houston, Texas office. Our lawyers offer strategic tax advocacy in tax law cases to protect the rights of our individual and business clients. Se habla español.
