Can a person not owe back taxes to the IRS?
Sarah Duran
Published Feb 28, 2026
The IRS is not likely to just decide that you don’t owe back taxes that were assessed. The only time this really happens is if you can prove you were the spouse of someone who owes back taxes, but that you had no knowledge.
What happens if you owe back taxes in a divorce?
Tax Attorney Patrick Walter guest blogs on the challenges faced by divorcing couples who owe back taxes. Tax Debt is Treated Like any Other Debt in a Divorce. Legal Exceptions to Equal Division of Tax Debt. When Joint Tax Debt is Divided Unequally. The IRS May Not Honor a Divorce Agreement.
Is it possible to get forgiveness from the IRS?
Complete tax debt forgiveness is extremely rare. The IRS is not likely to just decide that you don’t owe back taxes that were assessed. The only time this really happens is if you can prove you were the spouse of someone who owes back taxes, but that you had no knowledge.
Can you get your tax refund if you are innocent?
This means that the IRS may take your refund, but you can get a portion back based on the income that the innocent contributed that year. The only time this doesn’t work is if you live in a community property state.
Do you have to file tax return for business?
You must lodge an income tax return for any year you run your business. You need to lodge even when you don’t expect you’ll owe tax. See the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for more information on income and deductions for business owners.
What’s the best way to pay back taxes?
You can use an IA to pay back one or more years of back taxes in a single payment plan. The total amount of back taxes you owe is divided into monthly payments set over a certain term. You negotiate with the IRS to determine how much you can afford to pay each month.
What to do if you owe money to the IRS?
If you owe less than $10,000 you can apply for a simple installment agreement yourself through the IRS website. For those who owe more than $10,000 it’s recommended that you work with a tax debt resolution service. An Offer in Compromise is the IRS’ version of a tax debt settlement plan.