If you coerce your spouse into filing a joint tax return, don’t expect to be granted innocent spouse relief
Hiramanek v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2016-92, 2016 WL 2763870 (2016)
Facts: The husband prepared a joint tax return for tax year 2006 and asked the wife to sign it. She refused to sign without reading it, and he permitted her to take a quick glance at the return. She noticed that the return contained a $35,000 casualty loss deduction for a break-in to the couple’s car while they were on vacation in Hawaii. Believing the deduction overstated, she refused to sign. The husband threatened and physically abused her for several hours, and she finally made a scribble on the signature line. The husband’s physical abuse was consistent with other physical abuse which the wife endured during the marriage. Continue reading →