My ex boyfriend, whom I lived with briefly, forged my signature on a joint tax return for "06" and "07" what .

Question

will the feds do to him? The thing is, he signed my name with my maiden name, but didn't even use the correct spelling. I am on disability, and filed for tax stimulis, then I get served with his $2,500.00 debt from his taxes. Apparently he was audited. I have been working with the IRS advocite on this as my rebate would have gone towards his debt. They wanted a hand writting analisis, and the signature didn't even come close. And what makes it even more unblievable is that I have not used my maiden name at all for 20 + years. And in 2006 I had just met him, and he is a federal employee for the postal service. I just can't believe de did this. My case is now being investigated by the IRS in Texas. They have frozen my stimulis check until the investigation is finished, which could take up to

60 days. Sorry this is so wordy, my question is this...what will the IRS do to him when they found out he forged my signature? I positvely DID not sign any tax document with him! EVER!

Thank you

Answer 1

Texas recognizes common law marriage.  Even if the IRS determines you were common-law married to this person, you still do not have to file a joint return with him.  

However, if the refund went into a joint account, you may have some responsibility to pay it back.

If he forged your signature and mailed the return, that is mail fraud.  I would think the post office would fire him.

Answer 2

I first guess is that he will get fined - probably not go to jail or anything.

Answer 3

The IRS will, at most, assess the additional tax due to a change in filing status and loss of an exemption.  They may not even do that, depending on who within the IRS ends up fixing your problem.

No one else will do anything, because they won't know about it unless you tell them.

BTW, Texas does not recognize common law marriage.  Texas does allow for statutory informal marriage, something quite different, but which most people confuse with common law marriage.

Answer 4

This is serious enough he might end up prosecuted for it.  At a minimum, he'd have to pay back what he got by doing this, plus penalties and interest.

Answer 5

how did he file a joint return if he's just an ex boyfriend?  I thought joint returns could only be filed between married couples?

Answer 6

So...your ex-boyfriend claimed you were common law married.

When the IRS agrees with you that you are innocent, they will change the tax returns for 2006 and 2007 to single.  He will lose the benefits he got for claiming you ($8750 less of taxable income in 2007) and his income tax will increase (at least another $1300-2200 for 2007).  This will get a fraud penalty, late payment penalties, interest etc.  

As a federal employee, he should lose his job.  The standard may not be as high for a post office employee as it is for the IRS, but this is theft!