Divorce: How to Obtain Your Tax Return and Why It Is Important

By: Carole L. Chiamp

Often one spouse, usually the woman, is asked to sign a tax return at the last moment it is due and not given an opportunity to review. Often it is never seen again.

When obtaining a divorce, it is most important that a joint return be provided to the attorneys for the parties so it can be used for checking for certain assets, for purposes of determining child support and/or spousal support, among other things. It can be obtained from the IRS with only one person’s signature, that is, the person seeking it. The other party will not know that it is being sought. It may take as long as six weeks to obtain.

To obtain a copy of the IRS form needed to request your joint or individual tax returns, click here.