What does injured spouse relief allow?

What is an 'Injured Spouse' Claim? An injured spouse claim can help you get back your part of a tax refund from a joint tax return. It applies where the IRS has intercepted the refund to offset a debt owed by your spouse but not by you.

What qualifies for injured spouse?

You may be an injured spouse if you file a joint return and all or part of your portion of the overpayment was, or is expected to be, applied (offset) to your spouse's legally enforceable past-due federal tax, state income tax, state unemployment compensation debts, child support, or a federal nontax debt, such as a ...

How does injured spouse relief work?

The "injured spouse" on Form 8379 refers to a spouse who has been affected by the application of a joint tax refund to offset their spouse's debts. Because they have been financially harmed ("injured") by this use of the refund, that spouse is able to reclaim their share of the refund from the IRS.

How is injured spouse refund calculated?

The injured spouse's share of the overpayment is computed by subtracting that spouse's share of the joint liability, determined in accordance with the separate tax formula, from that spouse's contribution of credits toward the joint liability. The amount credited cannot exceed the amount of the joint overpayment.

What qualifies for innocent spouse relief?

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.

Injured Spouse Relief - When to Use it and How It Works

What is the difference between injured spouse and innocent spouse relief?

Answer: From the viewpoint of the IRS, an injured spouse and an innocent spouse are quite different. You may qualify as an injured spouse if your joint income tax refund was held back and applied toward your spouse's past due liability for certain debts, including defaulted student loans, taxes, or child support.

Why don't you qualify for injured spouse?

To qualify for an injured spouse claim, you must meet all three following conditions: You are not required to pay the past-due amount. This means that the debt is one which your spouse incurred before you got married or that the debt is one for which only your spouse is liable.

How long does it take to get a tax refund with an injured spouse claim?

Generally: If you file Form 8379 with a joint return electronically, the time needed to process it is about 11 weeks. If you file Form 8379 with a joint return on paper, the time needed is about 14 weeks. If you file Form 8379 by itself after a joint return has already been processed, the time needed is about 8 weeks.

What is the IRS innocent spouse rule?

By requesting innocent spouse relief, you can be relieved of responsibility for paying tax, interest, and penalties if your spouse (or former spouse) improperly reported items or omitted items on your tax return.

How many times can you claim injured spouse?

Is there a limit to the number of years you can file an Injured Spouse form (8379) - due to an outstanding student loan? There is no limit to the number of year. The instructions for the form specifically state "You must file Form 8379 for each year you meet this condition and want your portion of any offset refunded."

Who is responsible for IRS debt in a divorce?

If you filed tax returns jointly when married, both spouses are liable to the IRS. That means they can collect 100% of the debt (tax, penalties, and interest) from either spouse. This is true after divorce, even if the spouse that is obligated per the divorce decree, fails to pay.

What if my husband owes back taxes?

If your spouse owes money to the IRS and you file jointly, you both become responsible for each other's taxes, penalties, debt, and levies. This means your tax refund can be put toward your spouse's back taxes, even if you weren't responsible for the debt that was incurred.

Can I sue my ex for my stimulus check?

Did your spouse or ex-spouse take your COVID Economic Impact Payment in 2020? If so, you may be able to claim your economic impact payment (EIP) as a credit or refund on your 2020 federal tax return.

Can the IRS take my refund if my husband owes child support?

Yes. His refund can possibly be garnished for past due child support. You may be able to file an Injured Spouse claim on Form 8379.

Do I have to file taxes with my husband if we are separated?

Filing Taxes When Divorce Isn't Final. If you are separated, you are still legally married. While you may think you should file separately, your filing status should be either: Married filing jointly (MFJ)

Do I have to give my ex my tax returns?

A: The answer is “maybe” and the first thing to review would be your existing court order. If it calls for production of tax returns, etc., then that is the controlling order. If not, she has no per se right to your financial documents, and the court rules state that a party has to ask to open post-trial discovery.

What is a non liable spouse?

A spouse who filed a joint return, but was not responsible for the erroneous item that caused the tax debt, may be able to claim innocent spouse relief.

Can the IRS garnish your spouse's wages?

The IRS can always garnish your spouse's wages if you are married and filing jointly. The IRS can and likely will garnish both of your wages in that situation. If you and your spouse are married and filing separately, the IRS cannot garnish your spouse's wages.

How do I stop child support from taking my tax refund 2021?

There are several ways to stop the state and federal governments from taking your tax refunds including contacting your local Department of Child Support and Enforcement (DCSE) agency to file an appeal, setting up a payment plan for your delinquent payments, and requesting a hearing.

Is the IRS processing injured spouse refund?

Generally, if you file Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, with the original joint return, the IRS will process it before an offset occurs. As you'll see on Form 8379, items on the joint return will be allocated for each spouse.

Does filing injured spouse delay return?

Filing your return with Form 8379 will delay the processing of your Federal refund up to 11-14 weeks.

How do I file an injured spouse stimulus check?

Form 8379 is filed by one spouse (the injured spouse) on a jointly filed tax return when the joint overpayment was (or is expected to be) applied (offset) to a past-due obligation of the other spouse. By filing Form 8379, the injured spouse may be able to get back his or her share of the joint refund.

What is the penalty for filing single when married?

People often ask us about the “penalty” for married filing separately. In reality, there's no tax penalty for the married filing separately tax status.

Why does injured spouse take so long?

Why does it take so long? Because injured spouse must be hand processed and anything hand processed in the IRS takes time - a lot of time.

How long does it take to get injured spouse refund 2022?

If an injured spouse files Form 8379 along with the couple's joint tax return, it takes about 14 weeks (11 weeks if the return is filed electronically) for the injured spouse allocation request to be processed.