Divorce, Taxes & CPA Truth Bombs – Episode 28

In Episode 28 of Cases & Cocktails, Bryan and Janice Eggleston sit down with CPA Michael Boatright for a surprisingly entertaining deep dive into one of divorce’s most overlooked (yet potentially devastating) issues: taxes. Boatright, the managing principal of Boatright CPA and the face behind the unofficial new brand “Taxes, Taxes, Taxes,” joins the couple for a candid conversation about joint returns, IRS liability, tax fraud, and everything divorcing couples need to know—but are rarely told.

To pair with the tax talk? A bold Bourbon Coffee Flip made with Buffalo Trace, cold brew, and simple syrup. Strong enough to power through some heavy financial topics—yet smooth enough to make it all go down easier.

What the IRS Cares About—and What It Doesn’t

One of the biggest takeaways from the episode? The IRS doesn’t care what your divorce decree says. If you and your spouse filed joint tax returns, you’re both on the hook. That’s called “joint and several liability,” and it means the IRS can collect 100% of the balance from either person—regardless of what your court order says about who’s “responsible.”

This issue comes up all the time in family court, where one spouse insists the other should carry the burden of old tax debt. But as Boatright explains, federal law overrides the divorce decree. If the IRS comes knocking, they’ll take what they can—then you’ll have to turn around and seek reimbursement through state court.

Innocent Spouse Relief: Rare but Real

What about cases where one spouse had no idea the other was committing tax fraud or hiding income? There’s something called “innocent spouse relief”—but it’s not easy to qualify for. The spouse must prove they had no knowledge of the wrongdoing and no benefit from it, and the standard of proof is high.

Boatright walks listeners through how the process works and when it applies. His advice? Don’t count on it. If your name is on the return, you’re probably on the hook.

Shoeboxes, Feed Buckets & Filing Back Taxes

In one of the more colorful segments, Boatright recalls the days when clients brought their tax documents in literal buckets—feed buckets, boot boxes, and all. While the firm has modernized since then, the lesson stands: clean records matter, especially during divorce.

When clients haven’t filed taxes in years—and that’s more common than you might think—it complicates everything from asset division to child support calculations. And if one spouse ran a sole proprietorship? Things can get messy fast.

Advice for Post-Divorce Taxpayers

For the spouse who wasn’t the financial decision-maker during the marriage, Boatright stresses the importance of building a support team—CPA, financial advisor, and attorney. “It doesn’t matter if you make $40,000 or $4 million,” he says. “You need professionals who understand your situation and can guide you forward.”

He also emphasizes planning ahead. Many tax mistakes come from assumptions and bad advice (especially from social media). The best time to talk to a CPA isn’t after the damage is done—it’s before.

Final Thoughts

Episode 28 tackles a topic most divorcing couples would rather ignore—but absolutely shouldn’t. From audit risk to return strategies to liability landmines, Michael Boatright breaks it all down with clarity and a sense of humor.

📅 Catch the next episode of Cases & Cocktails next week. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more legal insight, personal stories, and real conversations about family law in Texas—one case (and cocktail) at a time.