This is actually not my problem but my significant other's, her husband died in 2020. They lived in Kansas at the time, they filed married but separate in 2014. Now the state of Kansas says she owes $1400 for her husband for that year, what steps will she need to take if any to not have to pay her dead husbands tax debt? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Had a spouse die several years ago but kansas says I owe taxes from their 2014 filing even though we were married filing separately for that year
byu/FirstWeather2255 intax
Posted by FirstWeather2255
3 Comments
if they truly filed married filing separately for 2014, kansas usually would not automatically make her responsible for his separate tax debt the same way a joint return would
first thing i’d do is verify exactly what the state is claiming:
was the balance from:
• his separate return
• a joint state filing
• penalties/interest
• or something tied to shared income/property
she should request:
• copies of the 2014 kansas return/transcripts
• the notice details
• and how the liability was assessed
sometimes states still attach balances to surviving spouses until documentation is reviewed, especially after estates/probate situations
if the debt is only tied to his separate filing, she may need to respond with:
• proof they filed separately
• death certificate
• and possibly probate/estate closure paperwork
another thing:
states sometimes send collection notices to the last known household even when legal liability is questionable, so the notice itself does not automatically mean she legally owes it
for $1400 it may also be worth speaking with a local tax attorney, EA, or CPA familiar with kansas collections because they can usually determine pretty quickly whether the state actually has a valid claim or if it just needs to be disputed properly
She was trying find her filing status for that year by phone and the kept switching her departments for literal hours i want her to get a lawyer but at this point she is so fed up frustrated and defeated by this (shes been dealing with her deceased husband’s seemingly neverending stream of crap that keeps popping since he died) that she just wants to pay it and im trying to convince her otherwise thank u for the advice and I will follow through for her to the best of my ability
The lawyer may very well cost her more than $1400. Path of least effort and least cost is to take 20 min and write and mail a letter disclaiming liability (she didn’t sign the return).