When married couples file jointly, the IRS can legally apply the entire refund toward one spouse’s outstanding debt, even if the other spouse had nothing to do with it. If that’s happened to you, or you’re worried it could, you have options. At Joplin Tax Service, we have extensive experience helping injured spouses protect what’s rightfully theirs.
This is the IRS form that makes injured spouse protection possible. It allows income, deductions, exemptions, and credits to be allocated separately between spouses so your portion of the refund can be identified and protected.
One of the most common reasons a joint refund gets intercepted is a spouse’s past due child support obligation. We help you file the proper documentation to keep your share of the refund out of that process.
Federal student loan debt in default can trigger an offset of your joint refund. If your spouse’s loans are the issue, we can help make sure your portion isn’t swept up in it.
Unpaid federal or state income taxes, and even unpaid public defender fees, can all result in a refund offset. We know how each of these situations works and how to respond to them effectively.
Once your injured spouse claim is approved, your protected portion can be issued as a separate check and even mailed to a different address, if needed. We make sure that the request is properly included in your filing.
The difference between your gross income and your taxable income is where a lot of money either gets saved or left behind. These adjustments exist specifically to reduce what you owe, but only if they’re identified and applied correctly. Many filers don’t know they qualify for several of these, and others apply them incorrectly and end up with errors down the line. At Joplin Tax Service, we take the time to review every adjustment available to you so your return reflects your actual tax liability, not an inflated one.
You work hard for your money. Make sure you’re keeping as much of it as possible. Our team is ready to walk you through every step of the filing process, answer your questions, and make sure nothing gets missed. Getting started is easy. Reach out today to schedule your appointment and let Joplin Tax Service go to work for you.