I live in Nevada and have not filed my taxes in a few years how far do i have to go back when i finally do get around to filing? I lost all my tax info due to unforseen cercumstances (Ex-boyfriend threw everything away)and now I'm scared of what will happen when I go the IRS.
2006-09-07 09:13:26 · 13 answers · asked by mslorikaraoke 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
It may take the IRS several years to come after you, but they eventually will get around to it. If you wait until then, you'll not only have to pay a fine, but you'll be stuck paying what THEY think you owe for that year (always higher than what YOU think you owe). And they'll garnish your wages, if necessary, to get your back taxes.
You need to do your best to reconstruct the missing tax info. Contact your employer(s) for that year to request duplicate W2s. Also contact any other income sources for that year (banks, mutual funds, tax refunds from the previous year, etc.). If this is impossible, the IRS itself can provide you with the information that was reported to them.
Hire an accountant if you're dealing with multiple years of back taxes, multi-state back taxes or a complex filing (lots of attached schedules).
The task may seem daunting, but the payoff is not having the whole issue hanging over your head any longer. And you might even end up with a refund. (Refunds on taxes past due by three years or more don't have to be paid to you, so there's another reason to do it now.)
2006-09-07 09:30:21 · answer #1 · answered by vita64 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most tax agencies will go back as far as YOU can. Sometimes, people don't file because they are out of the country or information is lost or whatever. You can go to H&R block or Jackson Hewitt or any tax preparer and tell them how far you can go back. there are some fees for doing past returns but no more than the one to do the current year ones. In fact, past years are usually cheaper. You can request past W-2 from the IRS or past jobs etc. Talk to the preparers. Most have at least one franchise open in every city throughout the year and you can file past years throughout the year. It may be a little harder to find this month, but anytime after Jan 1st -Apr 15th would be easier. Hope it helped.
2006-09-07 09:21:32 · answer #2 · answered by vail2073 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should talk to a tax specialist, like H&R block or one of the other companies. Your phone book should have a list. Tell them what happened. The IRS if you owed them money will have fees and interest and other fines involved and there can also be fines for not filing even if you were going to get money back, but the fines are less. Your tax specialist should also be able to tell you if you even had to file, some times if you don't make enough money you don't have to file taxes. You also should contact your old employeers so that they can send copies of your old W2s to you.
2006-09-07 09:21:31 · answer #3 · answered by Lady 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know in the state of missouri you have three years to file a tax return and as for your tax info i think you can go to the irs web site and retrieve your w-2's from them so here is the web site and I hope that this helps you and don't be scared just tell them what is going on they should help you. Good Luck in everything.
2006-09-07 09:20:52 · answer #4 · answered by witsendmama 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you owe no taxes no problem and you will get interest. You can get what you made from the soc office. If you know where you worked then they too should have you income. Call the IRS to see how far you need to go back but pay cause they will put you away if you owe and put you in Prison and they don't givr up.
2006-09-07 09:24:17 · answer #5 · answered by spook12spook12 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should request a transcript of all the income that has been reported to the IRS (form 4506-T www.irs.gov ) and then file your taxes right now you can go back as far as 2003 and still get a refund, but if the IRS sends you a request to file your taxes starting from a certain year, then do that.
2006-09-07 13:00:30 · answer #6 · answered by emjay 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can go back 3 years, to receive refunds. But you can go back as far as u like. Sometimes if u file this year and they find out u havent file the years before they won't give you ur check till you file ur back taxes...just to make sure everyone is even. If you owe them or if they owe ur more.
2006-09-07 09:57:02 · answer #7 · answered by csabrinam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will not necessarily go to Jail if you are willing to pay up as of now. The sum that you have to pay maybe quite high as it is interest compounded. But why not take the first step and go talk to an Income Tax Practitioner and see what he / she says. I am sure that they will be able to advice you a lot better then all of us here.
2006-09-07 09:21:01 · answer #8 · answered by ArnieSchivaSchangaran 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they owe you money, nothing will happen.
If you owe them, you will have to pay a penalty for non-filing and interest on the money owed.
You have to go back for as far as you should have filed a return and didn't.
Don't be scared. Just take care of this as soon as possible so it doesn't get worse and more expensive for you.
2006-09-07 09:21:43 · answer #9 · answered by BoomChikkaBoom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is no penalty for filing late if you are getting a refund..call your old employers and they can get you your w-2's..go to a tax professional and they will help you..if you are due refunds the IRS will even pay you interest...good luck
2006-09-07 09:47:23 · answer #10 · answered by Billie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋