Do Not Be Pressured Into Signing Last Minute Joint Return
Robin is a teacher, who receives a W-2 in January which is handed to Terry to be given to their accountant. Terry’s accountant really. Terry is a partner in a law firm and has a host of business interests making for a joint return that weighs several pounds. Once a year, Robin is summoned to sign – quickly, quickly, because we have to get it in the mail right away. Robin and Terry are splitting, but they were still married on December 31, 2014. Marital status for tax filing is determined as of the last day of the year.
Even in a pretty toxic marriage, each of the parties will have had some of their needs met. One of Robin’s needs that has been met in the marriage with Terry was worrying at all about tax compliance. As the marriage comes apart, there is a temptation to continue having some of those needs met even as you live apart. This can extend even to those needs as this article by Kristen Houghton title “Is Sex With Your Ex the New From of Monogamy?” indicates. Whatever the pros and cons of a post-marital roll in the hay might be, beginning with that last return of the marriage, Robin probably needs to take responsibility for tax compliance.
Appomattox – April 12, 2015 – Auld Lang Syne
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park - April 12, 2015 The final day of my Virginia trip, my last Civil War real time experience (The Grand Review Parade in...
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Over and over again courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging one’s affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody does so, rich or poor; and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands: taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions. To demand more in the name of morals is mere cant.