2006-12-10 05:40:28 · 5 answers · asked by huff4423 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
The outcome will depend on your situation and if you show willingness to cooperate with IRS when you get caught.
If you don't owe taxes and don't file, generally they wouldn't bother you. I know of someone who didn't file for 12 years and started filing again last year. She isn't in any trouble with IRS. Another person stopped working for 3 years, he didn't file and didn't collect unemployment. He started filing the year he started working again, and IRS never said anything about the 3 missing years.
If you owe taxes and don't file, you are likely to be fined when you either start filing again or try to use government social benefits. If you can't afford the interests and penalties, IRS will work out a payment plan with you as long as you show them that you are willing to work it out.
Best wishes.
2006-12-10 05:58:38 · answer #1 · answered by JQT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on your income - if you make below the amount where you're required to file a return, then you can go forever.
Legally, you're supposed to file for the previous year every year by mid-April unless you've been granted an extension.
The IRS runs a couple years behind in following up on income that's reported by and employer or other entity, but doesn't show up on a return.
If you don't owe any money but didn't file, nothing is likely to happen to you, except that after three years, you'll lose your right to collect any refund that's due to you.
If you owe and didn't file, you're not likely to be in major trouble (other than possible fines and penalties, and interest on the unpaid amount) as long as you file before the IRS catches up to you.
2006-12-10 06:31:28 · answer #2 · answered by Judy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a staute of limitations on how far back the govt can go back and audit you. It starts every year when you file. If you dont file, say for about 20 years in a row, the IRS can go back to any point and audit you. Once you start, I think its somewhere between 3 to 7 years. Also, when you sign your taxes and sned them in, all the responsibility is on you. No matter what advice anyone gave you and no matter who filled out your return, you are the only one held accountable.
2006-12-12 23:21:18 · answer #3 · answered by davidm_42 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
taxes are a serious thing my fiance is going through some things right now with the irs, but you can't go longer than 3 yrs without filing,, if you don't file or you claim iliegal things on your taxes, or you don't pay in if you owe them.
2006-12-10 05:51:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as it takes for you to get caught... If you are currently working, your employer is sending tax information about you to the government who in turn can find out if you have not filed your income tax. They can catch you as long as their is a paper trail.
A tax crime starts as soon as you earn the minimum amount of money required by law to file for income tax... it varies from state to state.
2006-12-10 05:44:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋