how long can you wait to file?

Question

When I first started working I never filed my taxes because I made less than 5 thousand a year..can I file them now? It has been like 3 or 4 years. I saved all the paperwork.

Answer 1

If you think or know you are getting a refund, FILE...

The IRS would've let you know if you owed them any money by now...

So...Recap...You can backfile for up to 3 years (anything older, if you are getting a REFUND, won't be refundable)...looks like you would be gettin a refund for those years (with your income)...it may not be a jackpot of gold, but it'd be something...

Take a glance through your paperwork...add up the numbers in Box 2 of your W-2s...that's your possible refund...it may be more if you have children...

The IRS will never hunt you down if you have a refund coming to you...but just TRY to get away without filing if you owe...=)

Answer 2

If you made less than 5,000 each of those years, then, most likely, you would not have been required to file. The only exception is if you could have been claimed as a dependent by someone else.

You can always file later. However, you can only get a refund for 3 years after the time you were required to file. In other words, if you had a refund due to overwithholding for federal income tax, then you would have 3 years from April 15 of the year you were supposed to file.

So for 2002, regular filing date is 4/15/03, last day to file a claim for refund is 4/15/06. Too late.

For 2003, filing date of 4/15/04, last day to file for refund is 4/15/07.

And the pattern continues ...

Answer 3

You can file now, if you have children you will get extra monies. Deadline is the 15th....even though you did not have that much income in the past you can claim homestead credit and get additional money. You can go back three years for this.

Answer 4

Yes, you can go back up to three years from the regular filing deadline (April 15th).