Personal Finance and Investing

Even though she only had a high school education, he trusted her to file with Turbo Tax instead of going to a professional tax preparer.

He was supposed to get a refund that year, but he never saw it. She took the money and spent it. To the tune of $4,000 which was excessive of what he was due.

She took the money and spent it on a week's vacation in SC without him.

The IRS caught up with them. Wife said she "left out a number" on the return and made a mistake. IRS was not interested. The agency wanted its $4,000 along with penalties and fines. Now $6,500.

My client trusted his wife, which was a mistake. They filed jointly, so he was just as responsible as she was. And all the money was gone.

I had to do some real negotiating with the IRS and got it down to $1,000.

Epilogue: Wife took the kids, moved out of his house, and moved in with an alcoholic. My client was in denial and still is. They aren't divorced and he lets her keep his refund.