Tax Debt And Marriage

erikah and india
Rep Points:

Posted on September 22, 2009 at 5:08 am

Okay..for better or worse right?

My tax debt and marriage question is, if I marry somebody who owes the IRS, would I owe the IRS too? Are we sharing that liability?

Please say "no."

Stephanie Says
Rep Points:

Posted on September 22, 2009 at 5:09 am

ooops..

erikah and india
Rep Points:

Posted on September 22, 2009 at 5:10 am

Come on..really? Wow, what do I do now?

think about cosmos
Rep Points:

Posted on September 22, 2009 at 5:15 am

The words Tax, Debt. and Marriage...do not really mix well. So tackle them one by one. Does he have properties that the IRS can seize?

Are you seriously asking us what to do? But okay - my advice is talk to him about his finances and how it's going to affect you -- and the relationship eventually. He can consult with a tax expert if he doesn't have any idea as to how to go about eliminating his tax debts.

say it isn't so
Rep Points:

Posted on September 22, 2009 at 5:17 am

Tax, Debt, and Marriage

There's this thing called Offer in Compromise - where the IRS is willing to settle the debt for a single lesser payment. You can read up on it, here:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=104593,00.html

you'vesimplybroughtthismadnesstolight
Rep Points:

Posted on September 22, 2009 at 5:19 am

Just to add to that,

He has to prove to the IRS that his income and assets are not significant enough to ever pay the debt off.

there she goes again
Rep Points:

Posted on September 22, 2009 at 5:24 am

Tax, Debt, and Marriage

..or you can resort to this, that is if you get away with it:

it's called the Innocent Spouse defense. You have to prove that you have no prior knowledge of his tax debt to the IRS when you married him.

J.U.S.T.I.C.E.
Rep Points:

Posted on September 22, 2009 at 5:30 am

I think it doesn't apply to erykah, as she already knows of the debt - it's for those who just found out (honestly) just now that they married into tax debt.

You might qualify for the Innocent Spouse clause if:

-you can prove that you were unaware of the debt, or you thought that he already paid it before the marriage
-paying the debt would cause you hardship, if you pay the debt you wouldn't be able to afford your basic living expenses like food and utilities
-you can prove that you suffered or been abused in the relationship.

The Question
Rep Points:

Posted on September 22, 2009 at 5:32 am

Can professional debt settlement companies help consumers with tax debts?

Lurker (Guest)
Rep Points:

Posted on October 1, 2009 at 3:21 am

I believe not. They are only able to help out with unsecured debts but not federal debts.