Are Tax Troubles Ruining Your Marriage?

Supermodel and host of the reality television hit Project Runway, Heidi Klum is going into the advice business. Klum plans on sharing her insights on fashion, beauty, parenting and relationships with her fans.

Klum is married to pop singer Seal, and from all reports, the two have a strong and loving relationship. It’ll be interesting to see how the couple’s considerable financial wealth impacts her relationship advice – after all, financial issues are the leading cause of marital strife. MSN money recently detailed half a dozen ways that money can wreck a marriage.

Not on the list but definitely a big problem for many couples: tax problems. Unresolved tax issues can ruin your relationship. Here’s why:

Stress and Tension

The IRS uses aggressive and persistent collection techniques. The phone calls, intimidating notices, and threats of liens, levies on your wages and bank accounts, and seizure of your car or house can create an atmosphere of fear and anxiety that takes a toll on even the strongest marriages.

Financial Impact of IRS Actions

Tax liens can prevent a couple from borrowing money. This can make it difficult to buy a home, a car, or fund a child’s education. Not being able to realize long-cherished dreams such as these can create resentment and even hatred within a relationship. Additionally, many employers review a prospective employee’s credit report for IRS liens and often reject taking on a prospective employee who’s had trouble with the IRS. In today’s competitive job market, that can make finding and keeping a job even tougher.

What Can Be Done About IRS Tax Trouble?

Tax trouble doesn’t have to wreck your marriage. There are solutions to your outstanding tax issues. Often, simply beginning the process of dealing with unpaid taxes, unfiled tax returns, or other tax issues, eliminates a lot of stress and tension from the marriage. Knowing that the tax problem is getting fixed can put a couple back on the path to building a strong, happy life together – and that’s what a relationship is supposed to be about!