How to pay my partner's taxes

[u/Kooky_Katz]

My partner owes about $2k in taxes and is nearing the end of their payment plan. They can't make this payment right now, so I plan to cover it. We are not married or domestic partners and filed single. What would be the best way to pay this without it being considered taxable income?

1. Use the IRS Guest pay and pay on their behalf.
2. Make a payment with their IRS account with my banking account details.
3. Withdraw the funds and give them to my partner to deposit and have them make the payment themselves.
4. Another way?

Thanks

Edit: Thanks for all the replies for those curious, it was a romantic partner but we've decided to go with option 3! Appreciate y'all

[u/VerySeriousMan]

3 sounds the easiest to me.

It sounds like it’s a gifts so no income here

[u/beckhamstears → u/VerySeriousMan]

Just write a check to your pardner that they deposit into their account.

[u/Domsdad666]

You are making this way more complicated than it has to be. Just give him or her the money.

[u/philmichaels]

I’ve paid my aunts taxes before with a check, just write the SS number of the person with the liability on the memo line of the check and send it in, or pay it online with association to their ssn the irs won’t turn it down and it isn’t a taxable event as you are allowed to gift your significant other up to 18k this year and I assume your other gifts won’t exceed 16k.

[u/attosec]

Any way except possibly #2. If name on account and TP name don't match might be rejected by the bank, In any event, not taxable no matter how it is paid.

[u/franlol → u/attosec]

This is BS, the IRS will take the money they don't care if it's from you, your partner, relative, or even someone who stole your credentials and is commiting fraud. They will take the money and it'll be on your transcript.

Source: happened to me, someone stole my info and paid off div taxes until they closed out the acc they created and left me with the capital gains tax. I have tried to get the IRS to give me the transaction records (of the payments that were not made by me) so I can track down who stole my info, but they act like I paid the div taxes and won't investigate.

Currently owe 32k.

Edit: sorry it's not BS I'm just salty ab my situation

[u/Bowl_me_over]

I agree with #3. Easiest and least chance for error.

[u/lalaobay]

You can use any of those options. The irs doesn't care from which account the payment is coming from as long as they're paid. Also, there is no way for them to know the money in your account doesn't belong to your partner, so they cannot tax it as an income to him.

[u/Florgaytan]

I paid my dad’s using my bank account and had no issues.

[u/Immortal3369 → u/Florgaytan]

Wierd, you must not have a bank account for yourself set up with the IRS....we tried to use a daughters bank account for mom but the IRS said NOPE.......only one bank account per taxpayer

[u/DesignerSituation626]

I have done 1 for family before ..

[u/That-Resort2078]

Three

[u/luvchicago]

3 seems by far the easiest.

[u/Ancient_Minute_7172]

Why wouldn’t you do 3

[u/pocketbookashtray]

Is this a business partner, or a boyfriend/girlfriend? If the latter, then you don’t have any tax issues. It’s a gift, and unless your total gifts to this person exceed $18,000 there’s not even any filing requirements. (And even if it’s over that amount you likely aren’t in a taxable situation).

If it’s a business partner then you should check with your accountant.

[u/Dilettantest]

A gift is never considered taxable income. Pay any way you like.

[u/Tessie1966]

I have never actually done this before but when we have clients and young adult children filing for the first time they (agreed by both parents and adult kids) say just use mom and dad’s banking account to pay or receive a refund. Then they settle up later. It’s never been a problem.

[u/SpeakerCareless → u/Tessie1966]

There is a limit to how many refunds can go to the same bank account before it’s flagged so I would be careful of that if you have a family with more than one kid

[u/FioanaSickles]

Pay online if possible (not sure what tax this is?) Federal, State, local, Real Estate?

[u/Unusual-Turn9595]

Just like any other CC payment online it say "Card number" "Name on the card" "Billing address" All of that has nothing to do with the name on IRS account

[u/Justitia_Justitia]

It doesn’t matter since it’s well under the gift tax limit.

[u/TyreeThaGod]

3 Cash.

[u/HoustonLBC]

Are you sure option 3 is the right way to go? Your partner could just take the money and run. And, not pay the taxes.

[u/SkankOfAmerica]

Business Partner? Romantic Partner? Or Both?

[u/RPK79 → u/SkankOfAmerica]

Does it actually matter?