Calif IRS sent me Request for Tax Return

[Sw3tflower]

I am married, 'stay at home mom' whose children are now grown.
Husband has always filed joint tax return. I have no access to financial information, no shared accounts (not even checking), not part of financial decision making, ignorant in all financial respects. Husband is 'boss'.
We own a home. Husband has lousy credit and just formed an LLC and needed help. I took out a second and equity loan for him to pay debts in 2004 and another equity loan in 2005.
The IRS sent me a Request for Tax Return for 2004.
He took it and said as usual 'I'll take care of it'.
What can I do?What is the name of your state?

[stealth2]

I would talk to a tax specialist. The IRS apparently feels that you must have had some sort of income to have you qualify for the loans you did.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by stealth2

I would talk to a tax specialist. The IRS apparently feels that you must have had some sort of income to have you qualify for the loans you did.

It sounds to me like your husband hasn't filed a tax return for 2004....or at least not a joint one. It may be time to insist that your husband explain exactly what is going on....and then get yourself a consult with a tax specialist.

[nextwife]

Hon, STOP burying your head in the sand. You are a WIFE, not an employess, and you need to be FAR better i8nformed about your household's financial well-being. I mean, what if he got hit by an airplane tomorrow? Where would you begin to try to figure out what's what?

Ask husband to review accounts, tax records and EVERYTHING with you. Don't let being a woman prevent you from being an informed PARTNER in your marriage.

Don't mess with the IRS. Ask hubby WHYv they are writing, and ask for documention. If he had a stroke tomorrow and couldn't talk, for example, how would you begin to figure out your taxes, savings, retirement accounts and insurance information. I'm 51, and have had friends experience heart problems, brain tumors, accidents, strokes, and other health problems, but they, at least, were well informed about their family financial and insurance situations..

You can't afford to remain uninformed!

[Sw3tflower]

My husband just told me 'the 2004 taxes are done' and 'I'm worrying about nothing'.
I just got a Notice of Proposed Settlement (taxible income is over $75,000) stating I have until June to pay. My husband refuses to give me any financial information and says he is taking care of everything.
I can't afford to pay an attorney to force my husband to get off his a-- and send in the taxes! I already tried and it cost me $4000....which my husband refused to pay.
What now?

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by Sw3tflower

My husband just told me 'the 2004 taxes are done' and 'I'm worrying about nothing'.
I just got a Notice of Proposed Settlement (taxible income is over $75,000) stating I have until June to pay. My husband refuses to give me any financial information and says he is taking care of everything.
I can't afford to pay an attorney to force my husband to get off his a-- and send in the taxes! I already tried and it cost me $4000....which my husband refused to pay.
What now?

Is this notice of a proposed settlement addressed only to you?...or is it addressed to the two of you jointly?

[Sw3tflower]

Sorry...it's to me only. I was the one who took out the loans on our house, he cosigned. The IRS assumed my 2004 income must have been at least $75,000 when actually the loan was based on my husband's income. I live in Calif.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by Sw3tflower

Sorry...it's to me only. I was the one who took out the loans on our house, he cosigned. The IRS assumed my 2004 income must have been at least $75,000 when actually the loan was based on my husband's income. I live in Calif.

Hon, you REALLY need the advice of a local tax professional. Enforcement is CA is very tricky and you really can't deal with this on your own. I am sorry that your husband won't cooperate, but you also have to put your foot down with him. Until you prove to the tax authorities that your name is on an already filed joint tax return, they are not going to stop going after you....and from what I understand, they can be very vicious with little to no evidence.

I am a tax professional but I don't have any direct experience with CA. However, its widely known in the industry that the tax authorities in CA are truly vicious.

[Sw3tflower]

Hi
There are so many different types of specialists these days.
When you say 'tax professional', is this like saying 'attorney'? Are there family tax professionals, business tax professionals......etc? If so, exactly what type of tax professional should I be looking for?
Thankyou

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by Sw3tflower

Hi
There are so many different types of specialists these days.
When you say 'tax professional', is this like saying 'attorney'? Are there family tax professionals, business tax professionals......etc? If so, exactly what type of tax professional should I be looking for?
Thankyou

I don't think you necessarily need a tax attorney, an enrolled agent would probably be more than sufficient....or a CPA if they have a lot of experience with individual tax returns.

In any case, what you need is someone who is particularly experienced in dealing with CA state taxes.

[CandiceH]

Originally Posted by LdiJ

Hon, you REALLY need the advice of a local tax professional. Enforcement is CA is very tricky and you really can't deal with this on your own. I am sorry that your husband won't cooperate, but you also have to put your foot down with him. Until you prove to the tax authorities that your name is on an already filed joint tax return, they are not going to stop going after you....and from what I understand, they can be very vicious with little to no evidence.

I am a tax professional but I don't have any direct experience with CA. However, its widely known in the industry that the tax authorities in CA are truly vicious.

OMG, I can second this one! CA is horrible. Twenty years ago my step father had a lein put on him for arabian horses that he supposably owned and generated income from (um, he has never been near a horse, let alone owned one). It took nearly 8 years, the loss of two properties and several other assets to get it straightened out. They are vicious and they will come after you with NO proof. To this day he still suffers financially and he didnt even get so much as an "apology", even after the properties were auctioned off. He was so distraught that he decided to give up and that was his retirement, his nest egg that he worked so hard for. Do you want to know what he got back from the IRS and CA state dept of taxation......10 percent of what the assets were worth. It seems impossible, but happens. Speak to someone IMMEDIATELY!