Hypothetical question for armchair tax experts to ponder (the marriage that never was)

[qb]

What tax implications are there for a couple who have filed 'married filing jointly' tax returns for the past 13 years if a previously undisclosed (and undissolved) first marriage comes to light?

[seemunkee]

1. In my case it would be none

Because I would be DEAD.

[JoDog]

2. Hopefully, a CPA

will chime in on this one.

I have no idea what would even be sensible in this case. I should hope that the person who was not committing bigamy would be considered to be a victim, having filed the taxes in what was, to the best of their knowlege, a legal manner.

Did the eventual bigamist think they were divorced and there was just some sort of paperwork/court snafu? Or did they know that they were committing bigamy?

[qb]

3. The eventual bigamist thought she was helping a friend stay in the country

and never got around to divorcing him.

[JoDog]

4. What started out as friendship

slowly developed into 2 criminal charges, then--bigamy and citizenship fraud. If she hasn't lawyered up already, she'd better.

Your friend who had no part in the mutiple marriage situation should go to see a CPA on this matter. He should probably retain a lawyer as well. I suppose if he does end up liable for a tax bill he could always sue his near-wife for the amount the IRS held him liable for. He might win, since it was her actions that led him into trouble and he acted in good faith.

I hope he comes through it OK.