Ok, it all started in 2004 or 2003 I think when I needed to fill out an electronic signature to finish the taxes and I never sent it in... yeah, my bad. so I dont know if they went through, and never kept track of my bank account to see the refund... then in 05 I ran into the same thing when they asked for my taxable income from the last time I filed... so it snowballed until now... and im ready to face the facts... is there anyone I can contact or any service that will pull up my history and help resolve past years so I can move on with my life!? yeah... and I need to do them this year as well but my anxiety about the whole thing has caused me to delay it, im a pretty basic person, no dependents, not married... and i should have probably gotten a refund for every year.. thank you for any help...
2006-09-29 21:54:04 · 5 answers · asked by Michael C 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
First, take a deep breath. You're looking to do the right thing, but it's going to take some doing. If you have been with just a few employers, you can call them up and tell them you need reissued W2s for the necessary years. They are still required to have these records for the last 5 years at least.
If you are one of the lucky many who has worked for too many employers to recall them all, or you've worked for someone who is no more, then you'll have to go a different route. In this case, you get a transcript from the IRS. This will contain the necessary information to file a Federal tax return, unless you were self-employed or something else 'unusual'. I've attached the link to the transcript request below.
From there, it's easy. Download the tax forms, fill them out, and mail them in (making sure to use the most current IRS address for your area), or take all your stuff to a professional and let them take care of it for you. Good Luck, and good job getting it taken care of.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
2006-09-30 11:44:54 · answer #1 · answered by Katie Short, Atheati Princess 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We were in a similar situation and we just gathered whatever paperwork we had and took it all to a CPA. It cost us about $350. Our taxes were more involved than yours, so you probably wouldn't have to pay that much. I just felt better about having a professional take care of it for us.
You probably won't have to pay a penalty if you've been owed a refund every year. If your taxes are basic, just gather your W-2s, 1099s (statements showing interest from bank accounts), home mortgage info, etc. You can get all those things from the original source--employer, bank, mortgage company. You can get this information from the IRS, but I think it takes a while. Our accountant told us to find the information ourselves.
Keep in mind that you have only three years to claim a refund, and then the IRS keeps it, so don't delay. Look in the yellow pages for an accountant to help you do this. You must be feeling a lot of anxiety over this. It's a big deal, of course, but not as bad as you think and easily resolved. We ended up with a big refund. Good luck, and don't worry, just get it done!
And about that year where you're not sure if you actually filed, just call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and ask what the last year was that you filed and what years are missing. Tell them you're getting it done.
2006-09-29 22:13:42 · answer #2 · answered by ginger 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Contact the local IRS office directly and ask them for help.
Here is a link:
http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html
Also here is some info on "Haven't Filed an Income Tax Return? Here's What to Do " from the IRS:
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=108327,00.html
Otherwise go to a good accountant enrolled to practice before the IRS and have them work it out with them..
2006-09-29 22:11:24 · answer #3 · answered by MeInUSA 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Since the IRS has copies of your W-2's, you can call them and ask them to send you copies so you can fill out your tax returns. You can also get the forms from their website.
You can also call your employers to get copies of your W-2's as well.
If you are expecting a refund, you should have nothing to worry about. However, if you owe, then you have to deal with paying penalties.
The situation is not as bad as you think it is.
2006-09-30 00:50:34 · answer #4 · answered by Steve 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Use this form to get copies of your transcripts from the IRS:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506t.pdf
Then you will know exactly where to start (the filings they have in their records for you).
2006-09-30 02:23:10 · answer #5 · answered by Dee 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋