Tax season can be daunting for the average American, but the level of stress it causes domestic violence victims is astronomical.
Financial control plays a big role in domestic violence, which is why an abuse survivor is thankful for a memo the IRS put out in late 2017.
The IRS sent out a memo in October 2016 specifically for domestic violence victims, explaining that taxpayers have the right to:
- Ask the IRS for copies of prior-year tax returns
- Seek independent legal advice
The IRS also offers a separate form called a Request for Innocent Spouse Relief, which is Form 8857. If a survivor and a spouse file a joint return and the survivor is not aware that the abuser has not paid the taxes, the survivor can fill out the form to be relieved of liability. It's a right for all taxpayers, but it can be very helpful to someone under an abuser's financial control.
