Tax Tips for Survivors of Domestic Violence

December 23, 2021

A woman cuddling an infant.

By Jen Fletcher, 2017 Get It Back Campaign Intern

Last updated October 14, 2025

Leaving an abusive partner can be a difficult decision, especially when dealing with financial insecurity or economic hardship. Fortunately, survivors of domestic violence can safely file their taxes and take steps towards financial independence with support. Here are five things you should know about tax time.

1. File a tax return even if you don’t have a filing requirement.

Filing a tax return is important to help build financial stability. Even if your income is below the filing requirement, , you may still get a tax refund or qualify for tax benefits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child Tax Credit (CTC).

If you are married to an abusive partner and have not legally divorced, you can file a tax return as “Married Filing Separately.” This may make you eligible for some credits like the EITC and CTC, though you might not qualify for other credits and benefits. Regardless, filing taxes may put you in a better position to claim tax benefits later.

2. Check to see if your state has an Address Confidentiality Program.

Worried an abuser might find you through the address on your tax return? Many states have an Address Confidentiality Program. These programs allow you to set up an alternate mailing address (often a post office box) and offer other privacy safeguards for your tax return and public records.

Check the National Association of Confidential Address Programs to learn what is available in your state. Additionally, domestic violence shelters and other service providers (such as Community Action Agency or Salvation Army) may allow survivors to use their address for tax purposes.

3. Find out if you are eligible for special tax relief.

Many abusive partnerships involve some amount of financial control. You may have signed a joint tax return without fully knowing or understanding the details. Different forms of tax relief are available if you have a tax-related concern that involves an abusive spouse or former spouse.

  • Innocent spouse relief: Reduces or removes a spouse’s liability on a joint return in certain cases.
  • Injured spouse relief: Releases a spouse from liability for certain past-due tax debts that come from the other spouse.
  • Separation of liability: Divides tax liability for spouses who are legally separated or no longer married based on their ability to pay.
  • Equitable relief: Assigns tax liability based on the adjusted gross income (AGI) of each spouse but does not eliminate total liability for either spouse. (AGI is income from wages, dividends, retirement distributions, etc. minus adjustments such as student loan interest, alimony payments, or retirement contributions.)
  • Reasonable cause relief: Removes the responsibility to file a tax return or pay penalties if you can present evidence showing why you were unable to do so on time.

Not everyone qualifies for these forms of relief. In most cases, you will need tax documents from past years. If you cannot access these documents easily, the process will take longer. Support and resources are available to help you through it.

4. Get free or low-cost help.

Some VITA sites offer year-round services and can help you file prior year tax returns. They may also help you amend a tax return you already filed to correct a mistake so that you get the tax benefits that you qualify for.

If you are eligible for special tax relief or need help with other domestic violence matters, free or low-cost help is available. Options include Low Income Taxpayer Clinics, the Taxpayer Advocate Service, or Legal Aid. (Note: Most VITA sites are not trained to help with the tax relief options described above.)

Free virtual tax filing is also available through Code for America’s Get Your Refund service. This service offers free, safe, online tax filing help for individuals who earn less than $66,000 a year. You can file your taxes from your home or another location with a secure internet connection.

There are other resources that can help you build economic security beyond tax time. Many VITA sites and community organizations offer programs to help with budgeting, saving, wealth-building, and career development. These programs can offer important tools for building financial independence.

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