If you haven't filed your taxes yet... What do you do?

Question

I made over $24,000 last year. No tax places are open. Solid information please.

Answer 1

Where did the $24K come from? Did you receive it as an employee (W2) or an independent contractor (1099-MISC)?

If you received it as an employee, then chances are your employer withheld a good amount of taxes against your tax due. In this case, the 1040EZ would be sufficient.

If you received it as an independent contractor, gather the expenses you've incurred against this income. You'll need to fill in a Schedule C and transfer that information on the 1040. If this is the case, file ASAP to minimize the late filing penalties & interest.

Good luck.

Answer 2

You need to file.

Storefront operations like H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt are in many cases closed for the season, although you might find a few still open. Accountants are open year-round, and have much more training and expertise anyway.

If you have an uncomplicated return, like just income from a job or two with a W-2, you should be able to prepare it yourself. You can call the IRS for help if you need to. Or if you post additional info here like what kind of income do you have (e.g. W-2, interest on bank accounts, self-employment) and info about your personal situation (married or single, age, any kids, are you a dependent of your parents) somebody can probably walk you through it by email.

Answer 3

You will be fine. But as we speak, and until you file, interest or late fees may be accumulating. If you are getting a refund, then possibly no interest fees. However, you gotta get going. Can you find someone willing to share their turbo tax program? There are some still for sale, try Costco, Barnes and Nobel. The man ahead of me suggested a site too. Without knowing how many dependents, write offs, mortgage?, that you may have, he suggested 1040EZ. That may be your case, but if you have some kids, or major write offs, you may want 1040 or 1040A.

Answer 4

Do you mean that no tax preparation offices are open? Look on the web. Do a search for "tax preparation EA" and you'll get a million or more hits all around the country.

A good tax preparation company can prepare your taxes from where they are quite well and quite reasonably. I would recommend you look for an EA which is a person who has been tested and licensed by the IRS.

Answer 5

First of all, if you have a refund coming, there is no penalty for filing late. You can file next year for both years, no problem.

If you owe money, you can send the Fed. Govt. a check for about what you think you owe. You do this with a 'quarterly estimate' form, 1040-ES. You can download this form from the IRS website. Put your SS no. on the check and the form, and the amount is put in your account. If you pay too much, you'll get a refund (with interest!) next year when you file.

If you owe money, and just wait till next year and file for both years, the penalty will not be a whole lot, maybe $50. I mean you won't go to jail or anything. They might not even penalize you. I've done this a few times myself.

Answer 6

You can still efile online your 2006 tax return. Here is a link to the IRS site with the efile info. http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118508,00.html

There should be no problem at all but if you do owe taxes there will be penalites and interest to pay--if you are expecting a refund then you will not be penalized for filing late.

Answer 7

It isn't that big of a deal, just get them filed. As long as you have your information, file it now so you don't have to worry about it.

Answer 8

www.irs.org

download any pubs or forms you need.
File yourself. It should be easy - 1040 ez

Since you made under $58,000 you may file electronically from the www.irs.org site, and click on electronic filing.

GOD bless us always.
MBA-Boston Univ.
CPA-retired