If you’ve missed filing your taxes for a year or more, you’re not alone. Many people fail to file due to time constraints, tight schedules or financial difficulties, but the IRS is generally more understanding when you file but can’t pay, rather than not filing at all. The best course of action is to file your returns, get up to date, and explore tax relief programs that fit your situation.
Taxprofix has helped thousands of taxpayers catch up on unfiled returns and regain financial stability.
You will be assessed a late filing penalty. You will also face a late payment penalty every month. Interest will also accrue on any unpaid taxes.
If you have unfiled tax returns from previous years, but file this year, the IRS may delay paying your refund.
The IRS may decide to file a substitute return (SFR) on your behalf reducing or eliminating your refund. SFR assessments lead to a higher-than-usual tax bill
Refusing to file a tax return with an intent to evade tax is considered a crime. You may face criminal charges for tax evasion, and the punishments may include imprisonment.
You risk losing your refund if you don't file your return. If you are due a refund for withholding or estimated taxes, you must file your return to claim it within 3 years of the return due date. The same rule applies to a right to claim tax credits such as the Earned Income Credit.
If you’re unable to file this year’s taxes on time, you can request a filing extension request. This will give you more time to submit your return. However, any due taxes will need to be submitted by the original tax deadline. If you’re unable to pay in full you can get an IRS payment plan.
In some cases you may be eligible to get your filing and payment penalties waived through a first-time abatement request or through relief due to reasonable cause. This can be available if you’ve experienced unforeseen circumstances that prevented you from filing on time.
If you’re unable to make any payments on your tax debt, the IRS may settle for a smaller amount through an offer in compromise. You’ll need to prove that you are in financial hardship and unable to make the requested payments. This can be an effective way to get caught up and back on track with the IRS.
If the IRS files a substitute for return (SFR) due to an unfiled tax return, you can file a late return to replace it. This is called an SFR reconsideration. This can be a good choice if you don’t agree with the adjustments the IRS made on your SFR.
Our tax professionals have experience in dealing with every type of tax problem and working directly with the IRS to solve these problems for our clients.