Soon to be ex forged my tax return and ran off with money

My soon to be ex wife forged my tax return this year and took off with the money, I have not seen a penny of my tax return this year. I was wondering is there anything I can do?

Raise the issue with the family court judge as part of your overall marital property settlement.  A family court could order her to return some money to you as part of your divorce.

There is almost no chance that the authorities will go after her with criminal charges.

Kivi:

There is almost no chance that the authorities will go after her with criminal charges.

That's probably true.

But I would still get a police report on record. Forgery is still forgery and it's a crime.

She might not get prosecuted but she'll know she got bit.

Make sure you get a copy of the forged document from the IRS.

When you say she forged "your" tax return, do you mean that she completed a joint tax return for the two of you and forged your signature to it or that she forged a separate return for you? And how would you have wanted to file the return—separate or joint? And when you say she took off with the money, what did she do—deposit the check into a joint account with just her indorsement on the check and then withdrew the money, or did she forge your indorsement on the check and cash it? Was the return she filed at least accurate? And finally, what state are the divorce proceedings at? Has the court entered a property settlement in the case yet? The answers to these questions will define the range of options that you have for dealing with this.

She completed a joint return and forged my signature on the tax return. I would have filed jointly and split the check down the middle with her, but when I asked her about the check all I get is the run around. I have not seen a cent from our tax returns, and at the time we had already split up.

The returns were done in Florida, and as far as a property settlement, the house is in my family's name (just for this particular reason, my name is nowhere on the mortgage/deed nor is hers).

As far as property, there is very little that there is to dispute.

If you believe that the return was accurate (how did she get your W2 information?) then you would probably be better off addressing the issue in the divorce.

She may not have technically forged anything.  If she filed electronically and had the refund direct deposited she can claim that you consented to filing electronically and the direct deposit, and then its a he said/she said situation.

I should add however, that you should probably check to make sure that a return was filed for you at all.  Many people in her situation (particularly if there are children) might have filed a separate return claiming head of household status (even if not valid) to get a bigger refund.

Depending on details--there could be two forgerys --one to make the return and one involving any second signature on the refund check.

I'd explore both possibilities as to criminal conduct?