Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on the Internal Revenue Service's announcement that it has eliminated the two-year limit for filing innocent spouse claims. The innocent spouse provision helps to protect the spouses of tax evaders who didn't join in or didn't know about the tax cheating. Grassley is a senior member and former ranking member and chairman of the Finance Committee, with jurisdiction over tax policy. Grassley was a member of the National Commission on Restructuring the IRS, which laid the groundwork for the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998.
"Those of us behind the IRS overhaul enacted in 1998 never intended to put a deadline on innocent spouses. We were trying to help innocent spouses as a matter of fairness. These taxpayers never should have been put in the position they were put in by the IRS. It's very good news that the agency has seen the light regarding congressional intent and innocent spouses deserving relief."
