Joint tax liability bill passes Assembly committee

California’s Board of Equalization vice Chair George Runner has sponsored legislation which has cleared the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation. SB526 gives the Franchise Tax Board authority to honor legal divorce agreements regarding tax payments when determining if one spouse can be relieved of joint tax liability.
The law will help ease the financial burden of divorced women who should have no legal obligation to pay the tax, as stipulated by their divorce agreement. “The Franchise Tax Board should have the ability to honor court-approved agreements that fairly divides assets and debts,” said Runner. “Taxpayers shouldn’t have to go back to court to enforce a divorce agreement because of government inefficiency.”
SB526 is authored by Senate Republican Leader Jean Fuller and Senator Sharon Runner and co-sponsored by Board of Equalization Member Fiona Ma.
“SB 526 helps real taxpayers who face real challenges,” said Senator Sharon Runner (R-AntelopeValley). “An individual who thinks they are protected by their divorce agreement should not have to go back to court to keep from paying a tax liability for which they are not responsible.”