The Song That Never Ends

My ex’s behavior is like the Song that Never Ends. I swear, it’s the same crap YEARS and YEARS later.

While I was on a very romantic weekend away with my hubby, the ex calls and leaves a message. He informs me that I accidentally claimed our son on our 2006 taxes, which I wasn’t supposed to do. Now, anyone who knows me understands I scrutinize our divorce decree and follow it to the letter of the law. I want to make sure my ex has nothing to hold over my head.

Stupidly, I called the ex back to see what the heck he was talking about. He then proceeded to demand that I provide him a copy of my 2006 tax return (which includes my husband’s financial information on it, which he obviously doesn’t want the ex to see) and was then informed that “we” never filed our 2005 return and owe 10k in taxes! I told him I was not going to provide him with the tax return copy; however, I would send the IRS a copy to prove I did not claim our son. “I’ll take you to COURT,” he bellowed. Click. End of conversation.

Needless to say, I wasn’t very happy. I had to wait until I returned from our trip later in the day to start making calls to the IRS. I tried to put it out of my head while we finished up our trip, but it wasn’t easy.

Naturally, as soon as I called the IRS, everything was resolved. Apparently, the ex had put our son’s last name down incorrectly on his return, which screwed everything up. Filing over a year late probably didn’t help, either. And it turns out “we” don’t owe 10k. He just never mailed in our 2005 taxes, after he made a big production out of getting my signature and proclaiming he was mailing it out, “that day” (this was during our divorce).

Unlike the ex, I took care of everything immediately. I went right down the accountant’s office and signed a new copy of the return. I would have LOVED to pull the same garbage he does…..say I’ll do it “today” and then not do it for three weeks. If I had waited to sign the paperwork, his tax return would have been held up. But I decided I’m not going to operate the same way he does. I’m not going to be abusive and passive aggressive. I’d like to be able to say I do the right thing, even when he doesn’t.