I.

In 1987, Margaret Wiksell signed two joint tax returns for the years 1984 and 1985, both of which omitted substantial ill-gotten income generated by her (now ex) husband’s illicit business. Margaret Wiksell claims to have known nothing about most of the money taken nor anything about the scam that generated the funds. On March 7,1991, a notice of deficiency was issued to the Wiksells for tax years 1984 and 1985. The couple challenged the deficiency and, following a trial at which only Margaret attended, the tax court denied both taxpayers relief. Wiksell v. Commissioner, 67 T.C.M. 2360 (1994). This timely appeal followed and concerns only Margaret Wiksell (“Appellant”) in which she challenges the tax court’s determination that she was not an “innocent spouse” pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6013 (e).

We have jurisdiction pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7482 and remand so that the tax court can apply innocent spouse relief to that portion of the deficiency so deserving. The pertinent facts, most of which were stipulated, follow.

II.

Appellant was married in 1960, legally separated in 1988, and divorced in 1992. The *1461 couple had three children, although the middle daughter unexpectedly died in 1984. The marriage was anything but harmonious. Evidence adduced at trial showed that Appellant’s husband was domineering and abusive and, because of the relationship, Appellant would “go along” with anything that her husband expected.

During the course of their marriage, Appellant’s husband was engaged in several occupations, most of which were not lucrative. Indeed, in his pursuit of money, Appellant’s husband had gotten into trouble with the law. Thus, the record shows that the family often had a difficult time making ends meet. In the early 1980s, however, things changed. In 1983, Appellant’s husband started his own company “High Tech Recovery Systems” and, in 1984, he began working at Comstock Financial as an investment ad-visor later becoming an officer and vice president at that firm. It was clear to Appellant that at least Comstock was “doing very good business.”

Appellant had nothing to do with her husband’s actual business affairs. Although her husband at various times worked out of their home, he opened his own mail and kept any business documents in a locked file cabinet unaccessible to Appellant. Any attempts by Appellant to pry into the particulars of business matters risked her husband “flying into a rage.” Appellant nevertheless received large sums of money which she deposited in her own checking accounts. Specifically, in 1984, Appellant deposited approximately $54,500 and, in 1985, approximately $140,500.

Appellant testified that at least part of the money received and deposited was used to pay past business debts, although some the family’s living expenses were paid from these funds as well. Despite the fact that the account was in Appellant’s name, most check-writing was directed and controlled by her husband. Apparently, out of the money deposited in Appellant’s account, over $25,000 was given to various charities, some $2800 was donated to a political campaign, and over $20,000 was spent on home repairs and furniture. Additionally, certain real property interests were acquired.

Sometime in 1985 an investigation of Mr. Wiksell’s business was initiated. Appellant learned that a temporary restraining order prevented her husband from soliciting further investments and her husband’s deposition was taken as well. Appellant also read an article that purportedly explained the scam in which her husband was involved and also noted that two million dollars were at issue. Eventually, Appellant’s husband was arrested, pled guilty to criminal charges, and imprisoned.

Appellant’s 1984 joint tax return stated that the couple earned $10,525 and her 1985 joint tax return stated that they earned only $4,298. In reality, as a result of her husband’s misdeeds, over two million dollars were earned in 1984 and 1985. Although both returns were prepared by a third party, the circumstances surrounding their preparation and their signing are unclear. The tax deficiencies assessed as a result of the unreported income, the amounts of which are not disputed, are $221,294 for 1984 and $789,919 for 1985.

III.

A. Standard of Review.

The Court of Appeals reviews the tax court’s decision to grant relief pursuant 26 U.S.C. 6013(e) under a clear error standard. Guth v. C.I.R., 897 F.2d 441, 443 (9th Cir.1990).

B. Analysis.

Generally, marital partners who file a joint return are jointly and severally liable for its accuracy and any assessments due. See Guth, 897 F.2d at 442 , 26 U.S.C. § 6013 (d)(3). There is, however, an exception for an “innocent spouse.” Guth, 897 F.2d at 442-43 , 26 U.S.C. § 6013 (e) To qualify, the spouse seeking relief must show: (1) that a joint return was made; (2) that on such return there is a substantial understatement of tax attributable to grossly erroneous items of one spouse; (3) that in signing the return the innocent spouse did not know, and had no reason to know, that there was such substantial understatement; and (4) taking into account all the facts and circumstances, *1462 it is inequitable to hold the other spouse liable for the deficiency in tax for such taxable year attributable to such substantial understatement. 26 U.S.C. § 6013 (e)(1). When these four elements have been demonstrated, the innocent spouse is “relieved of liability for tax (including interest, penalties, and other amounts) for such taxable year to the extent such liability is attributable to such substantial understatement.” Id.

At issue here are elements three and four. As to the third, the tax court found that Appellant had actual knowledge of the substantial understatement and had reason to know of it as well; and as to the fourth, the tax court found that it was not inequitable to hold her responsible for the taxes due. Because the tax court did not clearly err in finding that Appellant at least had reason to know of a substantial understatement, and because Appellant has the burden of proving all four elements of the section, Price v. C.I.R., 887 F.2d 959, 962 (9th Cir.1989), we need not go further than the tax court’s finding on constructive knowledge.

1. Constructive Knowledge. In assessing whether Appellant had “reason to know” of a substantial understatement, a court must determine whether “a reasonably prudent taxpayer in [Appellant’s] position at the time she signed the return could be expected to know that the return contained the substantial understatement.” Guth, 897 F.2d at 443-44 (quotations omitted). The test ultimately is subjective and looks at such factors as Appellant’s education, involvement in financial affairs, the evasiveness or deceit of the culpable spouse, and unusual or lavish expenditures inconsistent with the family’s ordinary standard of living. Id. at 444 ; see also Pietromonaco v. C.I.R., 3 F.3d 1342, 1345 (9th Cir.1993).

Here, even assuming Appellant’s lack of involvement and lack of financial proficiency, the evasiveness and questionable background of Appellant’s husband together with the substantial cash on hand, the small sums reported, and the unusual expenditures for the years at issue, support the tax court’s conclusion. Although Appellant argues that their standard of living was not lavish, she admitted that the large cash donations during the years in question were “odd to say the least.”

Appellant contends, nevertheless, that because the money given to her was being used, at least in part, for business expenses, the presence of such money was not necessarily linked to the family’s income. This ignores that Appellant also spent substantial sums of money on non-business related matters. Additionally, unlike the years prior to 1984, there was no need for Appellant to work a great deal and there were no problems paying the bills. Appellant also knew the company for which her husband was working was successful and that her husband, who was rewarded with an Hawaiian vacation, likewise was doing well. Finally, there was no adequate explanation of how the couple acquired the real property interests, assuming they were acquired during the relevant period.

Appellant also argues that duress in the couple’s relationship and her personal problems (e.g. her daughter’s death) account for her lack of perception. See, e.g., Sanders v. United States, 509 F.2d 162, 169 (5th Cir.1975). We do not understand Appellant’s argument to be that her will was overcome at the time she signed the returns, see Furnish v. Commissioner, 262 F.2d 727 (9th Cir.1958), but rather that the duress explains why she had no opportunity to gain knowledge about her husband’s business affairs and why she had no reason to know of the unreported income. We reject this argument.

Whatever tragedy and duress Appellant faced, they did not significantly cloud her perception. When asked whether she questioned her husband “as to why there was no income on the returns reflecting the money that [Appellant] had been living off of and money that [Appellant] had been given,” she testified:

(emphasis added). Thus, Appellant at the very least knew something was awry, but refused to go further. From the record, it is unclear whether she claimed to believe her husband’s concocted story and, in fact, according to Appellant, it didn’t matter because she “wouldn’t have contradicted what he was telling [her].” In any event, to the extent that Appellant claims that she believed his explanation, the tax court logically could reject this, considering the extremely small sums reported, the evidence of excessive spending, and the large sums of money on hand. 2

In short, the evidence of an understatement was overwhelming and Appellant cannot hide from its importance. Because Appellant had reason to know of an understatement, there was no clear error.

2. Apportionment. While it is true that Appellant had reason to know of a substantial understatement, there is much less to indicate that she should have known of the magnitude of the understatement generated by her husband’s activities. Appellant therefore argues that because the record demonstrates her innocence as to most of the understatement, the tax court should have afforded her innocent spouse relief to that portion so deserving. It is unclear, however, whether this apportionment argument was raised below. Nevertheless, in extraordinary circumstances to prevent injustice, this court may consider arguments not properly preserved. See Ratanasen v. California Dep’t of Health Services, 11 F.3d 1467, 1473 (9th Cir.1993). Assuming that the issue was not raised, we find that the circumstances risk manifest injustice and warrant appellate review.

Admittedly, the text of the innocent spouse statute does not expressly provide for apportionment. However, neither does the statute forbid it. Indeed, relief of tax liability under the statute is afforded “to the extent such liability is attributable to such substantial understatement,” 26 U.S.C. § 6013 (e) (emphasis added), suggesting that an understatement may be partially deserving of innocent spouse relief. Other courts have, in fact, employed apportionment principles in applying innocent spouse relief. See, e.g., Ratana v. C.I.R., 662 F.2d 220, 224-25 (4th Cir.1981); Ballard v. C.I.R., 740 F.2d 659 , 665 n. 2 (8th Cir.1984); Bell v. C.I.R., 56 T.C.M. 1467 (1989); Jenkins v. C.I.R., 55 T.C.M. 1354 (1988).

Application of the statute without apportionment, moreover, potentially generates inequitable results. For example, relief might be wholly lost if culpability can be shown even as to a minute portion of the understatement. This court has recently observed certain inequities if the innocent spouse statute were literally applied. In deciding that a deduction could be parceled out when assessing whether it was grossly erroneous, this court noted:

Ness v. C.I.R., 954 F.2d 1495, 1499 (9th Cir.1992). The same concerns are present here.

In light of the equities involved, and faced with no compelling reason why the statute cannot be so interpreted, we find that apportionment is proper. See Guth, 897 F.2d at 443 (noting that the legislative history indicated that the innocent spouse statute was designed “to bring government tax eol- *1464 lection practices into accord with basic principles of equity and fairness”). Where, as here, a taxpayer can potentially demonstrate innocence as to a portion of the substantial understatement at issue, he or she ought to be able to attempt to do this. In this case, there is very little to show that Appellant knew — or had reason to know — of much of the understatement. Although Appellant received some $200,000 in funds and acquired some real property interests (the value of which is not before us), there is virtually nothing in the record which shows that Appellant had knowledge — actual or otherwise — of much of what was going on in her husband’s business and of the funds generated from those secreted events. It is true that Appellant read a newspaper article which apparently stated that $2,000,000 was at issue. Hyperbole in a newspaper story, however, is not uncommon and, in any event, without other evidence that so much money was personally diverted, Appellant could reasonably disbelieve the account. Finally, we reject the importance that the tax court placed on Appellant’s late access to her husband’s business papers, presumably while he was in jail. It is unclear whether the papers could even be understood in such a way to alert Appellant to the proportions of what was at issue.

Because there is a significant void in the evidence which links Appellant to much, if not the majority, of the understatement and its related tax deficiency, apportionment indeed seems fitting. We will remand the case and allow the tax court to reevaluate its decision, with the knowledge that apportionment is both available and proper in this case. 3 The tax court should determine what portion, if any, of the deficiency is subject to innocent spouse relief.

IV.

Apportionment under the innocent spouse doctrine, 26 U.S.C. § 6013 (e), is available and proper in this case. The tax court decided the ease on an all-or-nothing basis. Accordingly, judgment against Appellant and for Appellee is REVERSED, and the case is REMANDED to the tax court for redetermi-nation applying the apportionment principles announced in this opinion.

. The Eleventh Circuit has held that spousal abuse, both mental and physical, can reach a point so as to provide an adequate explanation for deference to the offending spouse even if it does not rise to the level of coercion. Kistner v. C.I.R., 18 F.3d 1521, 1526 (11th Cir.1994). Here, at least as to the monies described, it is clear that any abuse does not provide an adequate explanation. In light of our resolution— remanding the case to allow the tax court to apportion relief — we need not reach the issue as to the remaining funds.

. We note that the tax court also found that it would not be inequitable to hold Appellant liable for the entire deficiency. This finding, if correct, normally would end the inquiry because Appellant must demonstrate all four elements of 26 U.S.C. § 6013 (e) to be eligible for innocent spouse relief. The tax court's decision on this point, however, potentially was based on its misconception that it could not separate out that portion of tax liability attributable to innocence from that which was not. That is, it is not at all unlikely that faced with only innocent conduct, the tax court will find it inequitable to force repayment. 26 U.C.C. § 6013(e)(1)(D).