Is there a way to file for tax & returns for past years and ho far back can you go?
2006-09-20 16:36:03 · 8 answers · asked by afrodyzyak 5 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
If you have no taxes withheld, filing a return will cost you your time and the price of a stamp. It will not get you a refund.
If you are looking to get the Earned Income Credit (the money some people get even though it wasn't withheld from their paychecks), you are unfortunately out of luck. You must have "earned income", or income from work, before you can qualify for the credit.
So, basically, if you have no income, you're not required to file a return. If you have income from something other than work, such as interest income or income from self-employement or gambling,you may be required to file a return, but you can't get a refund unless you had something taken out of the checks for taxes. Just in case this applies, welfare payments (or whatever they're called now) are not taxable, and don't go anywhere on a tax return.
In answer to "how far back can you go", you can file returns (and still maybe get a refund) up to three years prior to the current tax year. In other words, right now you can file for years 2005, 2004, and 2003. However, if you haven't filed and are required to, you should go ahead and file for all years that you should have. This way, you're legal.
2006-09-21 01:16:15 · answer #1 · answered by Katie Short, Atheati Princess 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to file the returns as soon as you can. Yes, it's possible. Yes, it's illegal not to have done it. And there can be bad effects, but there might not be. You see, there are penalties for not filing, but the penalty is calculated based upon the taxes owed. If you don't owe any taxes, you won't owe any penalties, at least not for an individual return. I'm assuming here that you're talking about individual returns and not corporate or partnership returns. There are penalties for corporate and partnership returns even if no taxes are owed. I suggest you prepare the returns and file them as soon as possible. You might be worrying about something that's easily corrected and won't cost you anything.
2016-03-26 23:54:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can go back as far as three years but if you didn't work at that time, what would you be filing taxes for?
2006-09-20 16:38:44 · answer #3 · answered by Jerrysberries 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I you didn't work then you didn't pay any taxes. So I would think that you wouldn't have any reason to file. I would double check with the IRS or you tax guy.
2006-09-21 02:17:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can file for previous years but if you didn't work during that time you haven't paid anything in - you don't get back what you don't put in
2006-09-20 21:17:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, talk to a tax accountant.
2006-09-20 16:40:06 · answer #6 · answered by quietwalker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just call the IRS. They will give you all the information you need. I know because i did it
2006-09-20 16:41:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have paid, you might be able to get some back.
2006-09-20 16:39:04 · answer #8 · answered by JQT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋