STEVEN J FROMM & ASSOCIATES, P.C.
Philadelphia Estate Planning, Tax, Probate, Estate Administration, Small Business Attorney
Call Us now!
Philadelphia Estate Planning, Tax, Probate, Estate Administration, Small Business Attorney
The IRS may offset an overpayment of taxes for past-due federal debts, child support payments and some other debts. This can be a problem when spouses filing jointly but only one is obligated on these prior obligations. Where debt is attributable to one spouse and a joint return was filed, the other spouse may be entitled to a refund of his or her share of the overpayment.
Here are some of the basic rules for claiming a refund as an injured spouse:
To be considered an injured spouse, you must have made and reported tax payments, such as federal income tax withheld from wages or estimated tax payments, or claimed a refundable tax credit, such as the earned income credit or additional child tax credit on the joint return, and not be legally obligated to pay the past-due amount.
If you live in a community property state, special rules apply. For more information about the factors used to determine whether you are subject to community property laws, see IRS Publication 555, Community Property.
If you filed a joint return and you’re not responsible for the debt, but you are entitled to a portion of the refund you may request your portion of the refund by filing Form 8379, Injured Spouse Claim and Allocation.
You may file Form 8379 along with your original tax return or your may file it by itself after you are notified of an offset.
You can file the Form 8379 electronically. If you file a paper tax return you can include Form 8379 with your return, write “INJURED SPOUSE” at the top left corner of the Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ. If this form is attached, the IRS will process your allocation request before an offset occurs.
If you are filing Form 8379 by itself, it must show both spouses’ social security numbers in the same order as they appeared on your income tax return. You as the “injured” spouse must sign this form.
Do not use Form 8379 if you are claiming innocent spouse relief.
Instead, file Form 8857, Request for Innocent Spouse Relief. This relief from a joint liability applies only in certain limited circumstances. IRS Publication 971, Innocent Spouse Relief, explains who may qualify, and how to request this relief.
For more on IRS tax refunds not being received due to offsets please read IRS Tax Refunds Not Received Due To Offsets.
Steven J. Fromm, J.D., LL.M (Taxation) Philadelphia Tax, Estate Planning and Estate Administration Attorney
view profile
1420 Walnut Street Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Telephone: 215-735-2336
In order to help you more quickly, please
fill out the form and click “submit”.
A representative of the firm will call you shortly.
From their offices in Philadelphia, PA, the law firm of Steven J. Fromm & Associates, P.C. provides a full range of estate planning, probate and estate administration, tax, business and corporate legal services to clients throughout eastern Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley, the Lehigh Valley Area, the Five-County Area, Bucks County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Chester County, Philadelphia County, Berks County, Lehigh County, Lancaster County, York County, Harrisburg, Norristown, Doylestown, Media, West Chester, Allentown, Lancaster, and Reading.
