North Carolina spouses who file federal taxes jointly are typically liable for the taxes that are due when they file. This may create issues and complications in a number of scenarios, but there is an exception to this rule if one spouse seeks to be relieved from liability. Requesting equitable…
Articles Posted in tax
Proving Economic Hardship for Relief Under I.R.C. § 6015(f)
For spouses and ex-spouses facing economic hardship and seeking equitable relief from joint and several tax liability, filing a request for relief under federal law may be an option. The Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) provides an exception to the usual rule that spouses are liable for each other’s tax debt…
What are the Requirements for Head of Household When Filing Taxes?
Which filing status is the best option for you on your federal income tax return this year? More than one may apply, such as deciding with your spouse whether to file jointly or separately, but if you plan on filing as head of household, you must be sure you meet…
Are Social Security Numbers Required to Claim Children on Federal Tax Returns?
Members of some religious groups can submit a request to be exempt from the Social Security tax, but this choice may limit the tax credits you can claim on your federal return. For example, in order to claim a child tax credit, your child must have a Social Security number.…
What Are the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines?
Any parent over the age of 18 whose rights have not been terminated has an obligation to financially support their children. If you are going through a divorce, have recently separated from your child’s other parent, or are involved in a child support matter for any other reason, it can…
Speculative Taxes and Equitable Distribution
Dolan v. Dolan, 148 N.C. App. 256 (2002). Facts: Plaintiff and Defendant married in 1971. Plaintiff went to optometry school and eventually he started his own practice and also bought rental properties to supplement the family income. The parties separated in 1994. A claim for Equitable Distribution (ED) was brought…
Smart Contracts Part 2 – Family Law Applications
In a previous post, we discussed the basics and legal implications of smart contracts built upon blockchain technologies. These smart contracts are one of the highly touted tools that are set to streamline business. The recent law that formed regulatory sandboxes to promote innovative fintech (financial technology) products portends this…
Child Support
Craven County o/b/o Jessica L. Wooten v. Adel Hageb (No. COA20-442) Defendant Adel Hageb (“Father”) and Plaintiff Jessica L. Wooten (“Mother”) were never married but were involved in a romantic relationship. Mother gave birth to a child in 2016 and another child in 2017. After it was determined that…
Tax Returns and Determining Business Income
Spouses who own businesses can often keep a tight lid on finances. This may not be an issue at the onset of marriage, but it means that often, the other spouse is clueless as to how the money is being made. In the unfortunate event of divorce, income becomes a…
Tax Refunds, Credits, and Child Support
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (hereinafter “Plan”), also called the COVID-19 Stimulus Package, was passed by Congress and officially signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021. The Plan seeks to aid the economy in recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. One significant…