Can a spouse forge the other spouse signature on income tax returns?

Answer 1

The IRS uses tacit consent to determine if a taxpayer should remain on the tax return or not. Tacit consent is when you approve of something, but don't say so out loud. The IRS will use past actions to determine if you gave tacit consent for the tax return. For example for the last 10 years you have filed jointly with your spouse, in year eleven, the return was filed jointly and it is audited and there is a balance due. You protest the return and state that you never consented to the return. The fact that you filed the previous years, and there was no issue until there was an audit means you have your tacit consent for the return.

Answer 2

'Forgery' is a crime. In order to have a 'crime,' the act of signing the spouse's name to the return must have been done with criminal intent. IF sufficient probable cause can be developed that criminal intent existed when they signed their spouse's name, THEN and only then, could they be charged with forgery.

Answer 3

Yes If You have A Joint Bank Account i guess

Answer 4

Forgery by definition is illegal. You would need power of attorney to sign for your spouse in most jurisdictions. The fact that you refer to it as forgery implies that it is.