Liability for Income Taxes
Generally, spouses are jointly and severally liable for income taxes due on a jointly filed income tax return. A common situation that occurs is one in which a married spouse,[1] your client, is a stay-at-home parent. Your client may have been able to access money for household expenses; but she or he was earning little or no income.
Your client’s spouse had one or more separate bank accounts, and your client had no knowledge that income was underreported or that taxes were not being paid. Perhaps your client was in an abusive relationship. These are all factors to keep in mind when there are outstanding tax liabilities in connection with a joint income tax return…
Click here for the full text. This article was written for Contra Costa Lawyer, a publication of the Contra Costa Bar Association.
