Atlanta, GA asked in Tax Law for Rhode Island

Q: 2008 income taxes

I live in GA now, I just had a wage garnishment come up on my paystub & when inquired about this was told it was from RI. Called them & it’s from 2008 when I was married and husband at time filed our taxes jointly. I made less then 10k that year & he owed. So It’s his debt but he’s not working currently so they have come after me. I have not been notified of any of this until garnishment, he said he wasn’t either. Now all a sudden I’m getting $200 taken out of my paycheck bi-weekly for his debt he didn’t pay. And I’m not even 100% that it wasn’t paid back then because he has always filed taxes. If he owes he gets it taken out of refund income tax check. How can I fight this. It’s $1800 total but $1300 is all interest.

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1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered
  • Tax Law Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA

A: You may have options to address this situation:

1. Innocent Spouse Relief: If you believe you are not responsible for your ex-spouse's tax debt, you can explore the possibility of innocent spouse relief with the IRS. This relief may relieve you of liability for your ex-spouse's tax debt.

2. Verification of Debt: Ensure that the debt is valid and correctly assigned to you. Request documentation from the IRS or the state of Rhode Island to confirm the details of the debt.

3. Consult an Attorney: Consult with a tax attorney to help you navigate the specific circumstances of your case, review your options, and assist you in resolving the issue with the IRS or Rhode Island tax authorities.

Addressing this issue promptly with professional assistance can help protect your rights and potentially reduce or eliminate the garnishment.

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