How far back can the IRS make you pay?

ten years
As a general rule, there is a ten year statute of limitations on IRS collections. This means that the IRS can attempt to collect your unpaid taxes for up to ten years from the date they were assessed. Subject to some important exceptions, once the ten years are up, the IRS has to stop its collection efforts.

Do you have to pay your husband’s back taxes?

The same applies if your husband incurred a debt before you were married. In this scenario, your spouse is solely liable for the back taxes and the IRS cannot come to you for payment. If you filed jointly in the year the tax debt was incurred, then you may be personally liable for the back taxes.

What happens if a spouse dies without paying back taxes?

When someone dies leaving a debt, their estate will pay the amount that is due before distributing the remaining money to the heirs. A surviving spouse will not have to pay back taxes if the deceased filed his own tax return. The situation may be different if you filed jointly,…

Who is responsible for paying deceased husband’s back taxes?

The executor is responsible for filing the deceased’s final tax return, checking that he filed previous years’ returns and ensure that any resulting taxes are paid. If your husband filed single and is solely liable for back taxes, then the IRS must file a claim against the deceased’s estate.

Is it worse if your spouse owes the IRS?

You said “I do” and promised to stay with your spouse for better or worse. Now it turns out that part of the “worse” is money your spouse owes the IRS for back taxes. You’re not the first person to ask the question, “If my spouse owes back taxes, am I liable?”

Can a IRS come after you for your spouse’s taxes?

The IRS cannot come after you for your spouse’s taxes if they incurred their debt before you said, “I do.” Any tax debt your partner accumulated before marriage is their own responsibility, which means your tax refund is protected. However, sometimes the IRS may intercept your refund and put it toward your spouse’s back taxes.