Did my preliminary taxes, I was married in March 06. Wife and I have a son together. Logic would tell me to file married/jointly. However my wife and I both come out with larger refunds filling Single/Head of Household. How does the IRS know that we got married this year unless we tell them?
2007-01-01 08:08:04 · 7 answers · asked by TLARA01 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
I appreciate all your feedback, and it is right inline with how I am thinking. I'm just playing the Devil's Advocate. I guessing that there really isn't a way for them to know that I'm married unless I tell them. Right? We don't qualify for EIC (make to much) but if I file single/her HOH we're up $1,000's. I knew we shoulda never got hitcvhed.LOL.
2007-01-01 09:09:27 · update #1
Probably if you got new social security cards with you married name on them
2007-01-01 08:10:07 · answer #1 · answered by J♥R♥R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How do you know that they won't find out somehow? These things have a hibit of biting you in the backside when you least expect (and need) it.
Please take on board the comments made by the previous two posters. Jail is a possibility but just the civil costs will be enormous. The loss of EIC alone would more than likely be a five figure sum over ten years.
Edit: Judy makes a very good point, based on your updated question. You should not be thousands up.
2007-01-01 08:58:59 · answer #2 · answered by skip 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Keep this in mind: agencies of the federal and state governments communicate with each other. When your wife applies for a new SS card with her married name, and provides a copy of the marriage license to the Social Security Adminstration, that information will go on record throughout the agencies of the federal government. Your wife's name will change in the IRS database and they will also have the approximate date of the marriage.
If you knowingly claim a filing status that you are not entitled to, that is considered reckless and intentional disregard of the tax law and will undoubtedly subject you to accuracy and negligence penalties. Don't do it!
2007-01-02 19:34:19 · answer #3 · answered by ck10581 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're up that much by filing fraudulently as unmarried rather than married filing joint, you ought to check your figures - unless one or both of you was getting an EIC, that doesn't sound right. Are you sure you're using the right tax tables for each of these preliminary returns?
2007-01-01 09:49:33 · answer #4 · answered by Judy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They may or may not know, but if you file a fraudulent return there is no statute of limitations and they can come after you for the extra tax you got. The penalties are 75% of the tax, plus interest.
Plus if you are getting EIC by splitting your income with one of you claiming EIC, you may be forbidden to get this credit for up to 10 years.
2007-01-01 08:13:25 · answer #5 · answered by ninasgramma 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They will know from the marriage liscence, and also if she filed for a name change.
I know it sucks, but there isn't much you can do about it unless you want to face the possibility of the consquences lol
2007-01-01 10:55:02 · answer #6 · answered by opinionated 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your marriage license is a matter of public record. Also, when you sign your tax return, you are swearing under the penalty of perjury that your tax return is correct. If you are providing fraudulent information on your tax return, not only can it be a civil offense (fraud), but also a criminal felony offense (perjury).
2007-01-01 08:25:01 · answer #7 · answered by jseah114 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋