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feeling didn't last.

Even though we have been divorced for several years and I have always filed correctly, I have found myself regularly embattled with the IRS. He never learned his lesson, and every year since our divorce the IRS has put liens on my home and sent garnishment orders in to my employer because he is still claiming too many exemptions and racking up more and more tax debt. I have spent countless hours on the phone with the IRS explaining that we are divorced, getting lien release papers and insisting that my name be removed from any of his future tax obligations. The last time this happened was in 2008. I am still waiting to see if that is the end of it.

Financial secrets can ruin a relationship. Tax issues can not only ruin a relationship, but can haunt an innocent spouse for years to come. Completing a W4 form should be easy; just claim the same number of dependents that you actually have and you should at least break even. Multiply that number by several times and you set yourself up for a world of trouble. Because so many couples file jointly, it is important to be wary of this. A secretive spouse can change their exemption status without ever alerting their partner. Look closely at pay stubs. Pay attention to tax status throughout the year or this seemingly simple process can become a nightmare.

Learn more about this author, Heidi Attir.
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