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Articles Posted in innocent spouse

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The Taxpayer Who Cried Wolf (Hardin v. Comm’r)

Hardin v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2016-141, 2016 WL 4006806 (2016) Facts: Husband and wife were married in During the marriage, the husband was partner in a law firm, and he also ran a sports management business. The wife was owner and president of a financial planning company. The husband was…

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Fear is a Huge Factor in Innocent Spouse Relief (Hollimon v. Comm’r)

By: Dana M. Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law Group

Hollimon v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2015-157, 2015 WL 4747779 (2015) (a) Facts: During their marriage, the parties established and worked for a business providing temporary staffing to hospitals. The wife testified that the husband ran the business and she was an employee. The husband testified that the parties ran the business…

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Third-Party Evidence and Credibility are Key in Obtaining Innocent Spouse Relief (Sapp v. Comm’r)

By: Dana M. Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law Group

Sapp v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2015-143, 2015 WL 4639260 (2015) (a) Facts: The IRS assessed deficiencies on a husband and wife’s joint income tax returns for 2004, 2006, and 2008. The parties appealed to the Tax Court, and the wife sought both mandatory and discretionary innocent spouse relief. The IRS conceded…

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Gotta Give it Up: Favorable Evidence Must be Produced for Innocent Spouse Relief (Agudelo v. Comm’r)

By: Dana M. Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law Group

Agudelo v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2015-124, 2015 WL 4086310 (2015) (a) Facts: A husband and wife filed a joint tax return for tax year 2010. The return did not report as income certain unemployment benefits received by the husband. The IRS discovered this fact and assessed a deficiency. The husband filed a…

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Close, but No Cigar: For Innocent Spouse Relief, a Form 8379 Doesn’t Quite Cut It

By: Dana M. Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law Group

Palomoares v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2014-243, 2014 WL 6778542 (2014) (a) Facts: A husband and wife lived in Washington State. The wife was not fluent in English and mostly spoke Spanish. The parties separated in 2005, and the wife filed sole tax returns for 2006 and 2007, claiming refunds. The IRS…

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Like Pulling Teeth, Getting Innocent Spouse Relief can be a Tricky Process (Johnson v. Comm’r)

By: Dana M. Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law Group

Johnson v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2014-240, 2014 WL 6676824 (2014) (a) Facts: During her marriage, the wife owned and operated a dental practice. The parties filed a joint tax return in 2007, which correctly reported the tax due, but the parties had financial problems and were not able to pay the…

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Part 2 of 2: Digging Deeper into Innocent Spouse Relief (Demeter v. Comm’r)

By: Dana M. Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law Group

Observations: If the Tax Court asks for briefs, it is probably a good idea to file The husband’s attempt to argue duress was Duress occurs when consent is obtained through improper threats. The husband was in contempt of the state court divorce decree for various acts of noncompliance, including nonpayment…

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Part 1 of 2: Just How Complex is Innocent Spouse Relief? (Demeter v. Comm’r)

By: Dana M. Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law Group

Demeter v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2014-238, 2014 WL 6645592 (2014) (a) Facts: A husband and wife were  married. During the marriage, the husband started a business, Sunshine Framing and Finishing (“Sunshine”). The wife was added as a vice president in 2008. She ran errands for the company and helped with its…

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Innocent Spousal Relief Take 3: A Single Mistake Can Cost Thousands (Hammernik v. Comm’r)

By: Dana M. Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law Group

Hammernik v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2014-170, 2014 WL 4119398 (2014) (a) Facts: A husband and wife were divorced in Wisconsin. In 2003, before the divorce, the husband’s business encountered hard times, and he withdrew $104,909 from his personal retirement account to pay living expenses. The parties filed a joint income tax…

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Lack of Knowledge and Access is a Recipe for Innocent Spouse Relief (Varela v. Comm’r)

By: Dana M. Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law Group

Varela v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2014-222, 2014 WL 53656631 (2014) (a) Facts: A husband and wife filed joint tax returns for 2007 and 2008. The IRS assessed deficiencies. The wife petitioned the Tax Court for innocent spouse relief, and the husband intervened, asking the court to deny the request. The court…

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