Instructions for Form 8379 - Introductory Material Future Developments Reminder General Instructions Purpose of Form Which Revision To Use Are You an Injured Spouse? Innocent Spouse Relief When To File How To File Time Needed To Process Form 8379 Where To File Amending Your Tax Return How To Get Help The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) Is Here To Help You What Is the Taxpayer Advocate Service? How Can TAS Help Me? How Do I Contact TAS? What Are My Rights as a Taxpayer? Specific Instructions Part I Line 3. Line 5. Line 9. Part II Line 12. Foreign address. Part III Line 13a. Line 13b. Line 14. Line 15. If you used the standard deduction. If you itemize your deductions. Line 16. Line 17. Line 18. Line 19. Line 20. Daytime phone number. How To Avoid Common Mistakes Instructions for Form 8379 - Notices Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. Instructions for Form 8379 (11/2024) Injured Spouse Allocation (For use with the November 2023 revision of Form 8379) Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted. Revised: 11/2024 Instructions for Form 8379 - Introductory Material Future Developments For the latest information about developments related to Form 8379 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to IRS.gov/Form8379. Reminder If both spouses have qualified business income (QBI), the IRS will generally use information reported with the jointly filed Form 1040 or 1040-SR to allocate the QBI deduction as a percentage of each spouse’s QBI. General Instructions Purpose of Form Form 8379 is filed by one spouse (the injured spouse) on a jointly filed tax return when the joint overpayment was (or is expected to be) applied (offset) to a past-due obligation of the other spouse. By filing Form 8379, the injured spouse may be able to get back their share of the joint refund. Which Revision To Use Use the November 2023 revision of Form 8379 for tax years beginning in 2023 or later, until a later revision is issued. Use this November 2024 revision of the Instructions for Form 8379 for tax years beginning in 2024 or later, until a later revision is issued. Use prior revisions of the form and instructions for earlier tax years. All revisions are available at IRS.gov/Form8379. Are You an Injured Spouse? You may be an injured spouse if you file a joint return and all or part of your portion of the overpayment was, or is expected to be, applied (offset) to your spouse's legally enforceable past-due federal tax, state income tax, state unemployment compensation debts, child support, or a federal nontax debt, such as a student loan. A Notice of Offset for federal tax debts is issued by the IRS. A Notice of Offset for past-due state income tax, state unemployment compensation debt, child support, or federal nontax debts (such as a student loan) is issued by the U.S. Treasury Department's Bureau of the Fiscal Service. Go to IRS.gov/TaxTopics/tc203 and Fiscal.Treasury.gov for more information about refund offsets and debts. Complete Part I to determine if you are an injured spouse. Innocent Spouse Relief Don’t file Form 8379 if you are claiming innocent spouse relief. Instead, file Form 8857. Generally, both spouses are responsible for paying the full amount of tax, interest, and penalties due related to your joint return. However, if you qualify for innocent spouse relief, you may be relieved of part or all of the joint tax liability. You may qualify for relief from the joint tax liability if any of the following apply. There is an understatement of tax because your spouse omitted income or claimed false deductions or credits, and you didn't know or have reason to know of the understatement. There is an understatement of tax and you are divorced, separated, or no longer living with your spouse. Given all the facts and circumstances, it wouldn't be fair to hold you liable for the tax. See Pub. 971 for more details. When To File File Form 8379 when you become aware that all or part of your share of an overpayment was, or is expected to be, applied (offset) against your spouse's legally enforceable past-due obligations. You must file Form 8379 for each year you meet this condition and want your portion of any offset refunded. You must file Form 8379 within 3 years from the due date of the original return (including extensions) or within 2 years from the date you paid the tax that was later offset, whichever is later. Certain circumstances described in section 6511 may extend this period. How To File You can file Form 8379 with your joint return or amended joint return (Form 1040-X), or you can file it afterwards by itself. File Form 8379 with Form 1040-X only if you are amending your original return to claim a joint refund. If you file Form 8379 with your joint return, attach it to your return in the order of the attachment sequence number (located in the upper right corner of the tax form). Enter “Injured Spouse” in the upper left corner of page 1 of the joint return. If you file Form 8379 separately, please be sure to attach a copy of all Forms W-2 and W-2G for both spouses, and any Forms 1099 showing federal income tax withholding, to Form 8379. The processing of Form 8379 may be delayed if these forms are not attached, if the form is incomplete when filed, or if you attach a copy of your previously filed joint return. Time Needed To Process Form 8379 Generally, if you file Form 8379 with a joint return on paper, the time needed to process it is about 14 weeks (11 weeks if filed electronically). If you file Form 8379 by itself after a joint return has been processed, the time needed is about 8 weeks. Processing errors can increase the time needed to process your Form 8379. See How To Avoid Common Mistakes, later. Where To File See the chart below to determine where to file your Form 8379. IF you file Form 8379... THEN mail Form 8379... with your joint return and your joint return to the Internal Revenue Service Center for the area where you live.* by itself after you filed your original joint return on paper to the same Internal Revenue Service Center where you filed your original return.* by itself after you filed your original joint return electronically to the Internal Revenue Service Center for the area where you live.* with an amended return (Form 1040-X) or other subsequent return to the Internal Revenue Service Center for the area where you live.* * For Internal Revenue Service Center mailing addresses, see your tax return instructions or go to IRS.gov/Filing/Where-to-File-Paper-Tax-Returns-With-or-Without-a-Payment. Taxpayer Assistance Centers are not Internal Revenue Service Centers. You can't make an appointment at an Internal Revenue Service Center to file Form 8379. Amending Your Tax Return If you file an amended joint return (Form 1040-X) to claim an additional refund and you don't want your portion of the overpayment to be applied (offset) against your spouse's legally enforceable past-due obligation(s), then you will need to complete and attach another Form 8379 to allocate the additional refund. How To Get Help The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) Is Here To Help You What Is the Taxpayer Advocate Service? The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). TAS helps taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS, makes administrative and legislative recommendations to prevent or correct the problems, and protects taxpayer rights. We work to ensure that every taxpayer is treated fairly and that you know and understand your rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. We are Your Voice at the IRS. How Can TAS Help Me? TAS can help you resolve problems that you haven’t been able to resolve with the IRS on your own. Always try to resolve your problem with the IRS first, but if you can’t, then come to TAS. Our services are free. TAS helps all taxpayers (and their representatives), including individuals, businesses, and exempt organizations. You may be eligible for TAS help if your IRS problem is causing financial difficulty, if you’ve tried and been unable to resolve your issue with the IRS, or if you believe an IRS system, process, or procedure just isn't working as it should. To get help any time with general tax topics, visit www.TaxpayerAdvocate.IRS.gov. The site can help you with common tax issues and situations, such as what to do if you make a mistake on your return or if you get a notice from the IRS. TAS works to resolve large-scale (systemic) problems that affect many taxpayers. You can report systemic issues at www.IRS.gov/SAMS. (Be sure not to include any personal identifiable information.) How Do I Contact TAS? TAS has offices in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. To find your local advocate’s number: Go to www.TaxpayerAdvocate.IRS.gov/Contact-Us, Check your local directory, or Call TAS toll free at 877-777-4778. What Are My Rights as a Taxpayer? The Taxpayer Bill of Rights describes ten basic rights that all taxpayers have when dealing with the IRS. Go to www.TaxpayerAdvocate.IRS.gov/Taxpayer-Rights for more information about the rights, what they mean to you, and how they apply to specific situations you may encounter with the IRS. TAS strives to protect taxpayer rights and ensure the IRS is administering the tax law in a fair and equitable way. Specific Instructions Part I Line 3. Not all debts are subject to a tax refund offset. To determine if a debt is owed (other than federal tax), and whether an offset will occur, contact the Bureau of the Fiscal Service at 800-304-3107 (for TTY/TDD help, call 866-297-0517). Filing Form 8379 when no past-due obligation exists will delay your refund. Line 5. Community property states are Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you live in a community property state, special rules will apply to the calculation of your injured spouse refund. Enter the community property state(s) where, at any time during the year, you and your spouse resided and intended to establish a permanent home. For more information about the factors used to determine whether you are subject to community property laws, see Pub. 555. In community property states, overpayments are considered joint property and are generally applied (offset) to legally owed past-due obligations of either spouse. However, there are exceptions. The IRS will use each state's rules to determine the amount, if any, that would be refundable to the injured spouse. Under state community property laws, 50% of a joint overpayment (except the earned income credit) is applied to non-federal tax debts such as child support, student loans, state unemployment compensation debts, or state income tax. However, state laws differ on the amount of a joint overpayment that can be applied to a federal tax debt. The earned income credit is allocated to each spouse based on each spouse's earned income. For more guidance regarding the amount of an overpayment from a joint return that the IRS may offset against a spouse's separate tax liability, see the revenue ruling for your state next. IF you live in... THEN use... Arizona or Wisconsin Rev. Rul. 2004-71, available at IRS.gov/IRB/2004-30_IRB#RR-2004-71. California, Idaho, or Louisiana Rev. Rul. 2004-72, available at IRS.gov/IRB/2004-30_IRB#RR-2004-72. Nevada, New Mexico, or Washington Rev. Rul. 2004-73, available at IRS.gov/IRB/2004-30_IRB#RR-2004-73. Texas Rev. Rul. 2004-74, available at IRS.gov/IRB/2004-30_IRB#RR-2004-74. Line 9. Refundable credits include the following. American opportunity credit. Credit for federal tax paid on fuels. Refundable prior year minimum tax. Premium tax credit. Part II Line 12. If you checked the “Yes” box, enter the address and read the following instructions. If the address change is permanent, submit Form 8822, Change of Address, with Form 8379. If your last return was a joint return, your spouse must also sign Form 8822 unless you, the injured spouse, check the box on line 1 of Form 8822 indicating that you are establishing a separate residence. If the address change is temporary, don't submit Form 8822. However, the temporary address change may delay your injured spouse refund. Foreign address. Enter the information in the following order: number and street; city, province, county, or state; and country. Follow the country's practice for entering the postal code. Do not abbreviate the country name. Part III To properly determine the amount of tax owed and overpayment due to each spouse, an allocation must be made as if each spouse filed a separate tax return instead of a joint return. So, each spouse must allocate their separate wages, self-employment income and expenses (and self-employment tax), and credits, such as education credits, to the spouse who would have shown the item(s) on their separate return. Other items that may not clearly belong to either spouse (for example, a penalty on early withdrawal of savings from a joint bank account) would be equally divided. If you live in a community property state, follow the instructions below to allocate your income, expenses, and credits. The IRS will apply your state's community property laws based on your allocation if you checked the “Yes” box on line 5. The IRS will figure the amount of any refund due the injured spouse. If a deduction or credit would not be allowed had you filed a separate return, use the deduction or credit shown on your joint return and allocate that amount between you and your spouse. An example of a deduction that is generally not allowed on a separate return is the student loan interest deduction. Examples of credits generally not allowed on a separate return are the child and dependent care credit and the American opportunity credit. A similar rule applies to income and deductions (such as taxable social security benefits and the IRA deduction) that are subject to special limits on a separate return. Use the income and deductions shown on your joint return and allocate them between you and your spouse. Line 13a. In column (a), include any income shown on your joint return from Form(s) W-2. This income will generally be reported on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 1a. In columns (b) and (c), enter the separate income that each spouse earned. Line 13b. In column (a), include all other income shown on your joint return. Identify the type and amount. This income will generally be reported on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, lines 1b–9 (includes Schedule 1 (Form 1040), lines 1–10). In columns (b) and (c), allocate joint income, such as interest earned on a joint bank account, as you determine. Be sure to allocate all income shown on the joint return. Line 14. In column (a), include any adjustments shown on your joint return. These adjustments will be reported on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 10 (includes Schedule 1 (Form 1040), lines 11–26). In columns (b) and (c), allocate each adjustment to the spouse who would have claimed it if a separate return had been filed. For example, allocate the IRA deduction to the spouse who owns the IRA and allocate the student loan interest deduction to the spouse who is legally obligated to make the interest payments. If there are any adjustments that don't belong exclusively to one spouse, allocate them as you determine. Line 15. In column (a), enter the standard deduction or itemized deductions shown on your joint return. These amounts will be reported on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 12. If you used the standard deduction. In columns (b) and (c), include one-half of your basic standard deduction. Your basic standard deduction is generally as follows. Basic Standard Deduction 2024 $29,200 2025 $30,000 However, if someone could claim you or your spouse as a dependent, your basic standard deduction is the amount on line 4c of the Standard Deduction Worksheet for Dependents, found in the Instructions for Form 1040 (or 1040-SR). If you checked any boxes for age or blindness on your joint return, use the following worksheet to allocate the additional standard deduction (the difference between the total standard deduction and the basic standard deduction). 1. Enter here the total number of boxes checked for age or blindness for yourself (the injured spouse) on your joint return _____ 2. Enter the additional standard deduction for the year as shown below _____ 2024 $1,550 2025 $1,600 3. Multiply line 2 by line 1. Include this amount on line 15, column (b) _____ 4. Enter here the total number of boxes checked for age or blindness for your spouse on your joint return _____ 5. Multiply line 4 by line 2. Include this amount on line 15, column (c) _____ If you itemize your deductions. In columns (b) and (c), include each spouse's separate deductions, such as state and local income taxes. Allocate other deductions as you determine. Line 16. In column (a), enter any nonrefundable tax credits shown on your joint return. These credits are reported on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 19, and in Part I of Schedule 3 (Form 1040). In columns (b) and (c), allocate any child tax credit, credit for other dependents, child and dependent care credit, and education credit solely based on a dependent’s education expenses to the spouse who would have claimed the qualifying child (or qualifying relative) as a dependent if separate returns had been filed. Allocate any other credits as you determine. Line 17. In column (a), include any refundable tax credits (except the earned income credit) shown on your joint return. These credits will be reported on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, lines 28 and 29, and in Part II of Schedule 3 (Form 1040). In columns (b) and (c), allocate any additional child tax credit and any education credit solely based on a dependent’s education expenses to the spouse who would have claimed the qualifying child (or qualifying relative) as a dependent if separate returns had been filed. Don't include any earned income credit here; the IRS will allocate it based on each spouse's income. Allocate business credits based on each spouse's interest in the business. Allocate any other credits as you determine. Line 18. In column (a), include any other taxes shown on your joint return. These other taxes will be reported on Schedule 2 (Form 1040), line 1z, and in Part II of Schedule 2. In columns (b) and (c), allocate self-employment tax to the spouse who earned the self-employment income. Allocate the excess advance premium tax credit repayment in any way you determine. Allocate the Net Investment Income Tax (Form 8960) consistently with the allocation used for net investment income on line 13b. Line 19. In column (a), include any federal income tax withheld shown on your joint return. The tax withheld will be reported on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 25d, and Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 11. In columns (b) and (c), enter federal income tax withheld from each spouse's income as shown on Forms W-2, W-2G, and 1099. Be sure to attach copies of these forms to your tax return or to Form 8379 if you are filing it by itself. Also, include on this line any excess social security or tier 1 railroad retirement (RRTA) tax withheld and any Additional Medicare Tax withholding from Form 8959, line 24, attributed to each spouse. Line 20. In column (a), include any payments shown on your joint return. These payments will be reported on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 26, and Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 10. In columns (b) and (c), you can allocate joint estimated tax payments in any way you choose as long as both you and your spouse agree. If you can't agree, the estimated tax payments will be allocated according to the following formula. Each spouse's separate tax liability Both separate tax liabilities × Estimated tax payments Allocate each spouse's separate estimated tax payments to the spouse who made them. Daytime phone number. Providing your daytime phone number may help speed the processing of Form 8379. We may have questions about items on it. If you answer our questions over the phone, we may be able to continue processing Form 8379 without mailing you a letter. How To Avoid Common Mistakes Mistakes may delay your refund or result in notices being sent to you. If you file Form 8379 separately, don't include a copy of your joint return. This will prevent delays in processing your allocation. Make sure to enclose copies of all Forms W-2 and W-2G for both spouses, and any Forms 1099 showing income tax withheld. If you file Form 8379 with your joint return or amended joint return, enter “Injured Spouse” in the upper left corner of page 1 of your joint return. Items of income, expenses, credits, and deductions must be allocated to the spouse who would have entered the item on their separate return. Make sure the debt is subject to offset (for example, a legally enforceable past-due federal tax, state income tax, child support, state unemployment compensation debts, or other federal nontax debt, such as a student loan). Instructions for Form 8379 - Notices Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We ask for the information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. You are required to give us the information. We need it to ensure that you are complying with these laws and to allow us to figure and collect the right amount of tax. You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return information are confidential, as required by section 6103. The average time and expense required to complete and file this form will vary depending on individual circumstances. For the estimated averages, see the instructions for your income tax return. If you have suggestions for making this form simpler, we would be happy to hear from you. See the instructions for your income tax return.
