Another reality tv star couple, Kim Zolciak Biermann, former Atlanta Housewife, and Kroy Biermann, former NFL player, are calling it quits. Is this really news? Depends. Is there a lesson in this split that can apply to “real” people? Yes, there are several lessons to be learned.
A little background on this couple: Husband, Kroy Biermann, from Montana, played for the Atlanta Falcons as an outside linebacker from 2008-2015. He then had a short stint with the Buffalo Bills, which was his last football job. Kim Zolciak was a cast member on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She was a single mother with 2 young daughters featured on the show. Kim and Kroy met at a charity fundraiser that was filmed on the reality tv show. Their courtship began and the following year they had a son together and married on November 11, 2011. The Biermann wedding was featured on Bravo, a reality based tv network, and the wedding event and family show continued for 8 seasons. After the 2011 nuptials, the married couple had another son in 2012 and twins, a daughter and a son, in 2013. In 2013, Kroy officially adopted his 2 step-daughters, who are now both over the age of majority.
Financial issues and difficulties have plagued the couple for some time. Foreclosure actions have started against the couple. Apparently they defaulted on the $1.65 million loan they took out in 2012. It looks like they have been tardy with house payments and tax bills. There is news that they owe over $1 million to the IRS and over $15,000 to the state tax office in Georgia.
Speculation about the source of the couple’s looming divorce focuses on financial issues. Divorce related research shows the following: Financial difficulties are the 2 nd leading cause of divorce, with infidelity being the #1 reason. Money disagreements are the reason for 40% of all divorces. Couples with more than $50,000 in debt cite money as their top reason for disagreements.
How does money become such an issue? Researchers speculate that since money has long been regarded as a topic that polite people don’t talk about-this thought permeates over into marriage. It is also often cited that many men feel threatened when their wife is making more money, adding another strain on a marriage. Often couples will admit that they do not share the same thoughts on money as their spouse. Others admit that they may hide overspending from their spouse and engage in financial infidelity. Money issues can trouble every couple-whether they are on tv or not.
Back to the Biermanns – reality TV and social media have showcased some of the unusual spending of this family. Just days before filing for divorce, Kim racked up a $2000+ psychic bill for a 3 1/2 hour session and one of her daughters thanked her mom for the $900 designer shoes she was given for her birthday via a social media post. The family has posted about their $35,000 sofa and the 8 feet by 7 feet chandelier in their tv room. Kim has admitted to spending to $10,000 for one pair of boots and losing $250,000 in one casino trip to the Bahamas. Kim has also shared the custom beauty salon in her home where she stores her massive wig collection and the Versace china that has never been used. Their
lifestyle has been large and over the top.
While the Biermanns certainly did earn some money, Kroy has not been played in the NFL since 2015 and the reality family show, Don’t Be Tardy, was canceled in 2021. Much has been said and written on how it appeared that this family was really overspending. And, the home foreclosure news has circulated along with tax issues.
Some lessons that can be applied in any divorce action, taxes owed to the IRS by a married couple, are the responsibility of both parties. A separated couple may state in their separation agreement that any amount owed to the IRS will be the debt of husband or wife. However, if a joint return was filed, the IRS can look to either party for full payment, even if that is contrary to what the parties agreed upon in their separation agreement.
There is an “Innocent Spouse Relief” status or exception that an innocent spouse can offer as a reason to not be held liable for back taxes owed to the IRS. However, for this exception to apply, the innocent spouse doctrine/protection only applies when the taxes due are from the other spouse’s employment or self-employment. So, if Kim is angling for this type of protection, she will need to claim that she did not know about the errors and that the taxes owed are all related to Kroy’s income.
Only time will tell how these tax issues will be resolved for the Biermanns, but just know as a couple, whether still together or going through a divorce, there’s one major takeaway from all this – “Don’t Be Tardy” when paying the IRS!
