What Is Innocent Spouse Relief?

A married couple that signs and files a joint tax return is jointly and severally liable for the tax due. If one of the spouses believes that he or she should not be responsible for paying the tax due, that spouse may qualify for relief from payment of the tax through Innocent Spouse Relief.

Because Innocent Spouse Relief rules change regularly as new case rulings are handed down, we suggest consulting a licensed tax representative with 5-plus years of experience in this specialized area before pursuing such a request on your own. For without a seasoned professional helping you through this complicated process, the IRS may not give you the fair consideration you deserve. In the case of Innocent Spouse Relief, Fresh Start Tax Relief is not a viable option.