Robert Ehrlich: “a few months ago I wrote an article in one of my local papers concerning a constituent who left her ex-husband 13 years…”

“a few months ago I wrote an article in one of my local papers concerning a constituent who left her ex-husband 13 years ago after what she described as an abusive marriage. The Internal Revenue Service had targeted my constituent for payment of a $29,000 tax debt which was her former husband's personal responsibility. As a result, for a decade the IRS became a fixed, unwanted presence in her life. When my constituent appealed to the IRS for relief under what are known as the innocent spouse provisions of the Tax Code, the IRS told her she did not qualify, even though she is a textbook example of the kind of person the innocent spouse provisions are supposed to help. The fact that she does not qualify for help under existing law told me all I needed to know about the need for change in the IRS code. The IRS reform bill passed by the House last year did not specifically address the plight of many innocent spouses. Similar legislation under consideration by the Senate, however, does toughen innocent spouse protections. The House should follow suit and enact legislation to ensure women like my constituent will never be twice victimized, first by an abusive spouse and then by the government. Accordingly, I have introduced H.R. 3650, a bill to repeal joint and several liability of spouses who file their tax returns married filing jointly.”