If you’re married, filing jointly, and think your husband or wife could be cheating on you, now is the time to look for telltale signs. If your husband or wife is cheating on you, your joint tax return will probably contain evidence of both financial and marital infidelity. These two types of infidelity are so closely linked, that finding evidence of one will usually reveal the existence of the other.
If your spouse is having an extramarital affair, a detailed examination of your 1040 Form could reveal the following information:
• incriminating salary discrepancies
• sources of income you were unaware of
• secret bank accounts
• business interests, real estate you didn’t know your spouse owned
• financial transactions made behind your back
• unauthorized liquidation of joint assets in preparation for a surprise divorce
• and more
Follow the Money Trail – You Have to Pay to Play
Take line 7, for example. The figure on line 7, which represents wages, salaries, and tips, will alert you to any salary discrepancies. The figure on this line should be the total of your W-2 Form and your spouse’s W-2 Form added together. When you subtract the amount of money you made from this figure, the number left is the amount of money your spouse made last year. Double check this figure against your spouse’s attached W-2 Form, which should be attached.
If the number is a lot larger or a lot smaller than you expected to see, it could mean a number of things.
Exposing the “Overtime Lie”
Working overtime is an excuse commonly used by cheating spouses account for time spent on extramarital affairs. Max worked plenty of overtime last year, often pulling a double shift. But Tammy noticed his salary was almost the same as the year before. If Max had really worked as much overtime as he claimed he did, his salary should have been at least $10,000 higher than it was the previous year, yet the figures for the 2 years were almost the same. Tammy later found out the “overtime story” was a just cover for the workplace affair Max was having with a woman on his job.
Evidence of a Secret Lover
Chad was surprised to see that Angela’s salary was considerably lower than he expected it to be. She was always buying new jewelry and designer clothes. She regularly went to day spas for facials, manicures, massages, and all sorts of pampering, and treated herself to Caribbean and European vacations 2 or 3 times a year. There was no way she could afford all that on a $28,000 a year salary. Where was the money coming from to pay for all these things? Checking deeper into the matter, Chad discovered that Angela had a wealthy lover who was supplementing her income and showering her with expensive gifts.
A Secret Stash? Or Funds to Finance an Affair?
What if the figure on line 7 indicates that your spouse made a lot more money than he or she led you to believe? What happened to the excess funds? A husband or wife making secret plans to file for divorce will usually start putting money aside that the other spouse doesn’t know about. A raise or bonus your spouse failed to tell you about could account for a larger than expected figure on line 7 of your 1040 form. How did your spouse spend the extra money? Elaine found out that her husband used his year end bonus to buy his mistress a diamond ring.
FREE Tip Sheet Tells What to Look for on Your 1040 Form
This is just a sample of the kind of incriminating evidence you can find on your joint tax return if your husband or wife is guilty of financial or marital infidelity. Other areas of your 1040 form can be equally revealing. You should also scrutinize all attachments (Schedules A, B, C, D, etc), all accompanying forms, bank and credit card statements, and other financial documents used to prepare your joint tax return.
Even if you and your spouse file separately, getting a good look at his or her completed tax return (with or without permission) can give you valuable information about his or her financial affairs. But knowing what to look for is the key. For more tips on what to look for, and where to find evidence of infidelity on your joint income tax return, send for a FREE copy of the tip sheet entitled “The Tell-all 1040 Form” by e-mailing InfidelityInfo@gmail.com with “Tell-all 1040 - b” in the subject line.
For more information about joint tax returns and signs of infidelity, or the link between financial and marital infidelity, visit http://www.infidelityadvice.com/ and read the following articles:
How Your Joint Tax Return Can Expose a Cheating Spouse
Financial Infidelity Often Accompanies Sexual Infidelity
Or read the previous blog post entitled:
