Form 8857

What is Form 8857?

If you want to know what is form 8857, you have to read the section. This form is also known as the Request for Innocent Spouse Relief. It was created and provided by the Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service. You can’t file the document together with the tax return as it is not an attachment. You have to send it separately.

The document must be sent by taxpayers who want to receive relief from the tax liability on the current or former spouse. Usually, couples file a joint tax return. If you have extra taxes to pay for the income that was not reported both spouses are liable, even if they are divorced.

This is when you need to use form 8857. The divorce procedure itself is not considered by the IRS as the event that excuses the parties from the joint liability of the tax obligation. It does not matter that only one party is responsible for the extra tax. You have to fill the form before the deadline to avoid extra money collection for the income you do not share with the other party.

What I need the 8857 Form for?

• You have to use this form to request the relied on from the liability that involves the spouse you have or the former. The 8857 form must be filed within the 10 years deadline once the liability is assessed. For the refund, you have to file it in 3 years. Once you become aware of the tax obligation, you have to fill out the document;
• You may fill 8857 IRS form if there is unfairness in the tax calculations and the taxpayer is not responsible for the income but still has to pay the taxes from it;
• If the taxes were listed in your form from the spouse or ex-spouse by mistake you have to send the IRS 8857 form to the Treasury Department to fix the mistake.

How to Fill Out Form 8857?

There is detailed information on who should file the tax form 8857 in part 1 of the document. You have to read it in advance and answer basic questions to make sure that you match the requirements. If you don’t, contact the IRS officials describing your specific case. The form can be found on the official website of the department. You will be able to open it and read it.

If you want to fill it you can either download it and print it or use an online editor like PDFLiner with the tools available for you. The IRS form 8857 fillable by the taxpayer must be sent to the IRS online once it is completed or printed and sent by regular mail by the nearby department. You need to meet the deadline. Here is what you need to include in form 8857 PDF:

1. Read the instructions in part 1 and put the ticks in the appropriate boxes that match your specific case;
2. Describe yourself in part 2, including your name, address, SSN, and phone number;
3. Include the information on the spouse who shared with your tax liability. Describe the marital status;
4. Describe the situation with the involvement in the finances in Part 3. Explain why you apply this form in the first place at all, and describe the involvement in the tax return preparation;
5. Include the information on the people you are currently supporting;
6. Share the information on the monthly income and monthly expenses;
7. Include extra information if you have to share;
8. Put your signature and the date.

Organizations that work with IRS Form 8857

• Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service.