If you are an innocent spouse and marry a tax cheat, what can you do?

Let me share a real-life story:

Roberta and Tim have been married for over 25 years. Tim is self-employed and Roberta is a stay at home mom.

They travel all over the world, live in a multi-million dollar home­­…..and declare less than $50,000 in income on their tax return each year. While I’m no forensic accountant, it’s painfully clear that Tim isn’t declaring all of his income.

The IRS caught up with Tim recently. They audited his returns for the past 5 years and handed him a huge tax penalty.

Tim was lucky – he could have gone to jail.

What Roberta doesn’t know is that she’s lucky too. She was on the hook just as much as Tim since she signed the tax return.

Why is this important to you?

If you file a joint tax return, you do benefit by paying lower taxes, and that’s great. But sometimes one spouse goes too far in trying to reduce the tax liability. When they break the law, you’ve got a problem.

Why?

If you file a joint return and the information is false or wrong, the IRS can go after either of you because you both signed the return.

Big Brother can put you both (or individually) in legal hot water. And subsequent divorce won’t help you.

Even if your divorce decree says that one party has to pay the tax, the IRS doesn’t care. They can still come after you both.

So even if you are an innocent spouse, it’s really important for you to carefully review the tax return before you sign it. After all, you are liable for what you sign.

The typical situation:

Usually, one spouse knows more about the couple’s finances and files the tax return. Often, the other spouse simply signs the return without really understanding what’s in it.

So what can an innocent spouse do to protect themselves from becoming a target for the IRS?

1. Be aware.

Think about your lifestyle. What does it cost you to live? Where is the money coming from? Is it being reported? If you sign a fraudulent return, you are going to be held responsible. Roberta was living the life of Don Corleone. How can she claim to have the income of Homer Simpson? Don’t play that game….the IRS may not be so forgiving with you as they were with Tim and Roberta.

2. Ask questions.

If you see something on the return you don’t understand, ask. If something stinks, don’t let it pass. There is nothing so complicated that it can’t be made clear. Don’t stop asking questions until you understand what’s going on. If you have to, get your own CPA and get her opinion on the matters you question. Remember, this is your future we’re talking about.

3. Get to Kinko’s

Get copies of your last 3 years tax returns. Don’t count on your spouse to keep copies for you. Also, keep statements of investment and savings accounts for your own records.

4. Protect Yourself.

If you think your spouse is trying to pull a fast one, you’re going to have to protect yourself. Seek legal and tax advice from the pros. If your spouse is underreporting income or committing other tax fraud, start filing separate returns and set up separate banking and credit card accounts too.

Do you keep your own copies of your tax return? Do you understand everything in the return? Has this ever been a problem for you or someone you know? Would it freak your spouse out if you went through the return and asked questions?

Like this article? You will love getting my free brilliant financial updates! No spam, and I won't give your email address to any other person or company.That's a personal promise. Neal Frankle, Certified Financial Planner, Los Angeles, California

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