---
title: Innocent Spouse vs Injured Spouse: What's the Difference
url: https://taxtruce.com/answers/innocent-spouse-vs-injured-spouse
updated: 2026-10-29
---

# Innocent spouse vs injured spouse: what's the difference?

Updated October 8, 20262 sourcesTaxTruce team[Fact checked](/editorial-standards)

The short answer

Innocent spouse relief frees you from tax caused by your spouse's errors on a joint return. Injured spouse relief gets back your share of a joint refund taken for your spouse's debts. Innocent spouse uses Form 8857. Injured spouse uses Form 8379.

## Words to know

[Form 8379](/glossary)
:   The form to ask for injured spouse relief, to get back your share of a joint refund.

[Form 8857](/glossary)
:   The form to ask for innocent spouse relief.

[Injured spouse relief](/glossary)
:   A way to get back your part of a joint refund that was taken to pay your spouse's debts.

[Innocent spouse relief](/glossary)
:   Relief from tax your spouse caused on a joint return, if you didn't know about the errors.

## Sources

1. [IRS: Innocent spouse relief](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/innocent-spouse-relief)
2. [IRS: Injured spouse relief](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/injured-spouse-relief)

Run the numbers with our [free tax tools](/tools), like the penalty and payment plan math.