We hear this a lot: “What Happens if You Marry Someone Who Owes Back Taxes?”
If you marry someone with a tax debt, you are not responsible legally to help repay those debts. That debt belongs solely to your spouse. Nearly every U.S. state recognizes that a spouse is not liable for premarital debt incurred by the other spouse. This not only goes for taxes but other debts as well. If bill collectors claim you are legally obligated to pay a debt owed by your spouse, check your state’s laws regarding this claim. Chances are, that bill collector is trying to scare you. Unfortunately, if your spouse owes back taxes, the IRS or state tax department can garnish their wages without first obtaining a court order. In some cases, the amount garnished by the IRS may be more than what you expect. Before garnishing someone’s wages, the IRS will send several notices before issuing a “wage levy” to a taxpayers bank or employer.
What Can You Do If Your New Spouse Owes Back Taxes?
People owe back taxes for various reasons. The most common reason is simple: they can’t afford to pay them. However, neglecting to address a back tax problem as soon as possible means that debt amount is continuously increasing due to interest and other penalties being added to the back tax liability.
Wiztax can help you or your spouse take care of back taxes by assisting you in completing a preferred option acceptable to the IRS. The IRS Fresh Start Program resolves tax debt problems quickly and encourages people who owe back taxes to choose one of the following options:
- Monthly payment plans that fit your budget
- Offer in Compromise (settling for paying less than what you owe)
Some people may start to pay their back taxes and suffer a hardship that prevents them from making further payments. Job loss, illness, natural disaster or divorce are reasons why you may qualify for “hardship status”. If you think you may qualify for this option, get started with Wiztax today for help with filling out and submitting this option to the IRS.
If your new spouse neglected to file tax returns when they should have been filed, Wiztax can help you take the steps to file delinquent tax returns. If the amount owed is large and you’re having trouble paying, let Wiztax help with tax relief services for you or your spouse to resolve this back tax issue.
Stop spending sleepless nights worrying about owing the IRS back taxes. Visit Wiztax today to access our easy, online system where you can learn about all the tax relief options available. You can then even submit your offer to the IRS on the same day you start.
Join our Newsletter
Enter your email address to join our free newsletter. Get all the latest news and updates.