When did my husband sign my tax return?

After his death, Ms. Coggin learned that he had signed her name on the 2002 through 2007 joint returns. She thereafter filed married-filing-separately returns for those years and sought a refund of part of the 2002 through 2007 taxes that Mr. Coggin paid.

Is it legal for one spouse to sign a joint tax return?

That is another rule in tax law. The district court held that the joint returns were valid. The court said there is a limited exception to the rule requiring both signatures: when only one spouse signs a joint return, the return is valid if the non-signing spouse intended to file jointly.

What is the IRS Form for tax year 2017?

U.S. Individual Income Tax Return 2017 OMB No. 1545-0074 IRS Use Only—Do not write or staple in this space. For the year Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2017, or other tax year beginning , 2017, ending , 20 See separate instructions. Your first name and initial Last name Your social security number

Is the Form 1040 valid if signed by both spouses?

In fact, the IRS Instructions warn that a Form 1040 is invalid unless signed by both taxpayers. In a recent case, Alice and Phil Coggin were married until his death in 2011. On November 25, 2009, Mr. Coggin filed married-filing-jointly tax returns for the 2002 through 2007 tax years on behalf of himself and Ms. Coggin.

What is the legal definition of an estranged spouse?

What Is an Estranged Spouse? Legally, there is no specific definition of an estranged spouse, nor is there a legal definition of “estranged.” In general, spouses are estranged when they were once married and lived together, but they now live separate lives.

Can a spouse sign a return on behalf of the other?

There are two exceptions to this general rule. First, a spouse may sign a return on behalf of the other spouse if he acts as an agent of that spouse and complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulations section 1.6012-1 (a) (5).