2009 Taxes to 2024 Taxes

Tag: spouse

  • IRS Adjusts Rules on Innocent Spouse Requests

    Innocent Spouse Relief has always been available as a way for taxpayers who file joint tax returns and who were not aware, nor had any kind of reason to be aware, that her or his spouse had underpaid or understated their liability for income taxes. It was designed to offer the innocent taxpayer some protection from the faults of their partners and spouses and details of how it works were to be found in Publication 971 which was entitled Innocent Spouse Relief.

    The regulations detailed in Publication 971 state that innocent spouse requests that are seeking relief from liability need to be filed within 2 years from the time that the IRS begins action for collection against the spouse. The point of this time limit was always that it was established to encourage early and swift resolution while there was still evidence remaining. However it has been announced that the IRS now intends to issue new regulations stating that they will be removing this two year time limit. In doing so they have stated that the reason for its removal is that they wish to extend the period in order to assist more innocent spouses in their relief requests.

    From now on the IRS will not be applying that 2 year limit to any equitable relief cases and any taxpayers who have previously been denied relief requests purely on the basis of the two year limit are now eligible to reapply if they wish to. To do so they need to fill out IRS form 8857. In addition, those taxpayers who have ongoing cases currently held in suspension are now going to be afforded the benefits of the new rules and need not restart their application. Similarly they will not be applying the two year restriction to any cases that are pending litigation that involve equitable relief and if litigation has become final, they will suspend collection under many circumstances.

    All changes are effective immediately and can be found in Notice 2011-70.

    Alex is a freelance journalist and financial blogger. He loves to write about football and jazz but spends most of his days writing about mortgages, credit cards and tax reduction.

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  • What is the Dependent Care Tax Credit?

    What is the Dependent Care Tax Credit?

    When you are a working taxpayer and have dependents that require care while you are working, you can take a tax credit called the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, to help offset the expenses. The dependent can be a child under the age of 13 or a spouse that requires care due to physical or mental limitations.

    You can also claim the tax credit when you are looking for work. This is considered the same as working for this tax credit. Full time students are considered to have earned income while they are away from the home to qualify for the tax credit.

    You have to name the care provider on your tax return and it cannot be a spouse, dependent, or someone under age. And you must fulfill the residence test where the child or dependent spouse must have lived in the house for more than half the tax year.

    You can claim $3,000 for one dependent or $6,000 for two dependents. See IRS Publication 503 for more information on completing Form 2441 and claiming this credit when you prepare your taxes this year.

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