<prompt> Human: So we just got married this year, and next year well be filing taxes as a married couple for the first time. My taxes have always been pretty straightforward one office job, no mortgages, yadda yadda but I am terrified of the mess we might find ourselves in next tax season.My husband has been paid cash under the table for the past 4ish years. He did not find it necessary to file taxes, as his employer was not claiming him as an employee. Wrong, bad, we know. He is now unemployed and searching for a legit job thats another matter altogether and I am supporting both of us on my salary.Question: what do we do next year? I understand that filing jointly is probably the thing to do, but the fact that his SSN is going to be popping up in their system for the first time in years is going to sound some alarm bells. I can deal with the prospect of paying back taxes, but how would we even do this? He would have to estimate how much he made, which is tricky because his income was irregular, in the form of tips he was a golf caddy and cash from the head caddy. No records were kept of any transaction.Since were filing jointly and were married whats mine is his, will I be responsible for his back taxes? Is there a way to get around this and just say he was unemployed during that time? Halp!  <response>: My suggestion is to do nothing, just file your taxes ignoring the past. I think it is unlikely the IRS will come after him, assuming you dont have any appearanceevidence of wealth.In the case they do come after him, your husband explains the situation, says he has no idea of how much money he made, but it wasnt much, and he was living hand to mouth. He should have some estimate in mind, but if he has no records he will have to guess. He should be very careful not to overestimate, but it needs to be high enough to sound plausible i.e. enough to live on.If you have any sizable amounts of money in the bank, make sure you have records that it come from you and not from him.Edit to add: I assume your husband has not heard from the IRS over the years - if he has it is a different story. By the way, you dont realize how extremely common this kind of situation is - I wouldnt worry about it. 