Restrictions on filing previous years income tax returns?

Question

I have been a bad dog and completely neglected to file my taxes for about four years. Even more ignorant, I would recieve a refund every year.

I needed the money so I went to HR BLock and filed for the current year. I didn't have any kind of hold placed or even mentioned. And recieved my refund without incidence.

Now, I would like to file the returns I neglected to file for previous years and e-file to recieve my refunds ASAP
By Friday, which I know is probably not possible.
It is extremely important I try, my daughter just joined the Marines and ships out the day after her graduation from high school.
What would be the easiest way to complete them online if possible and are there any resctrictions, penalties or potential problems I should look for?

Extremely simple

Report Cash Tips, Earned Income Credit,
Child Credit , Mortgage Interest 1040 ez

Answer 1

Go back to the preparer who did 2006 for you. They will file 2004 and 2005 for you. You will have to pay for the tax preparation up front and mail in the returns.

It will take several weeks for you to get your refund. You have lost your refunds for 2003 and earlier. You have until April 15, 2008 to file for 2004 and get a refund.

Answer 2

You can file a missing return for any year at any time. There are no penalties if you have a refund due. There are penalties and interest if you owe on those years.

You cannot e-file them, though. You'll have to file paper returns and mail them in. Block can do that or you can just download the prior year forms from the IRS website, fill them out, print them and mail them in. Expect it to take 4 to 6 weeks to get your money; there's no way to speed that process.

You can still get refunds for tax years 2004 and 2005. The filing deadline for claiming any refunds for tax year 2003 was April 17, 2007. Refunds for 2003 and earlier are lost forever though you should still file the returns and close the open tax years.

BTW, with the items you have listed, you won't be filing Form 1040EZ. You're in 1040 territory.

Answer 3

First of all, you can't efile a prior year return. You'll have to mail them in. It will take 6 weeks or more to get your refunds if you have one coming.

And you can't use a 1040EZ and claim a dependent (which you would need to claim the child tax credit) or mortgage interest. To claim a dependent you need to file a 1040A or 1040; to itemize and claim mortgage interest, you have to file a form 1040.

For 2004 and 2005, you can stilll get your refund if you have one coming. For earlier years, it's too late.

As long as you don't owe for the previous years, there won't be any penalties.

Answer 4

If you live together, you can have only one primary residence. If you do not live together, but file a tax return together, you can have only one primary residence. However, taxpayers are allowed a mortgage interest deduction on one or two residences. The total qualified debt of the combined mortgages to buy, build, or improve the homes is $1 million. The total qualified debt of home equity loans is $100K. If you file separate returns, you could each deduct mortgage interest, but the limits are half of the above.

Answer 5

There are no restrictions with your unfiled tax returns. I have had the same issues. I am out of the country a lot and I have lost all my records. I called a tax company up in San Francisco and they were able to get it done very quickly and accurately. They are specialized in unfiled tax returns. When I talked to them they told me that they deal with people like you and I all the time. What I also realize is when you get your taxes professionally done, there are so many things you would've missed if you would do it yourself. They charged me $250 per returns which I thought was very reasonable. So, my feeling is why would I want to do it myself when I can have someone professionally done for me cheaply?