Innocent spouse relief is a provision offered by the Internal Revenue Service to spouses who were unaware that their husbands or wives were committing tax fraud. Taxpayers who qualify for this relief may be exempt from back taxes, penalties and criminal prosecution due to the fraud of the other spouse. Qualifying for innocent spouse relief, though, can be difficult, since there are many conditions a taxpayer must meet.
As the U.S. economy continues to languish, some taxpayers who owe the IRS back taxes are facing their own financial hardships. For many, simply paying the monthly bills is a difficult task, so repaying back tax debt can be almost impossible on their current income. Unfortunately, the IRS is legally entitled to pursue payment for outstanding taxes, regardless of the current circumstances of the individual who owes the debt. If you owe back taxes and you're facing financial hardship, one of the ways you may be able to get some tax relief is to qualify for temporarily uncollectible status with IRS agents. If you qualify, the IRS will stop pursuing you for your back taxes immediately.
Do you owe a large amount of back taxes to the Internal Revenue Service? If so, you may be struggling under the burden of repaying such a debt, especially if there are interest fees and penalties accruing by the day. The good news is that if you've been in arrears on your tax debt for close to 10 years, you may become eligible for permanent tax relief under the statute of limitations on IRS collections. This provision allows for the expiration of back taxes under a federal law. Before you can claim this provision, though, you'll have to find out if you qualify.
