Q: Do I owe half of a 2018 tax bill?
My ex-husband and I just got a tax bill from 2018, that says we owe money based on discrepancies with what we reported as our joint income. In 2018, I worked only part-time, making less than $10,000 a year. Our divorce was finalized in December 2019. Do I owe half of the owed taxes from 2018, since i made only a small fraction of the income, and make far less than him now too? (I work full-time now, but only make 1/3 of what he does.)
A: When you file jointly you are both jointly and individually liable. This means the IRS can come after one or both of you for the debt. You may have a good innocent spouse relief (ISR) case but without further details it is impossible to say for sure. Most of us offer a free consultation and can give you an idea if ISR would be a good option for you. Just stay away from the places you see advertised on TV.
A: If you handled your divorce with experienced counsel, this is likely referred to in your settlement agreement. I would refer back to it to determine your portion of the tax liability. Otherwise, other counsel has already properly answered here regarding your liability in the eyes of the IRS. Good luck.
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