I Haven't Filed a Tax Return with IRS in Years, What Do I Do?

In elementary school, kids come up with creativevery burdensome to get corrected.If you
excuses why they did not bring in theirhavent't filed in years you can call the IRS at
homework. "My dog ate it" or "It was stolen by1-800-829-1040 and after lots of time on hold and
invisible space aliens" might be given as a reasonmaybe a few transfers, you will eventually get
why something was not turned in on time. Don'tsomebody who can help you get your W2 info
try those excuses with the IRS! Don't blamemailed to you. Your local library may have old tax
divorce, business failures, or family troubles either,forms and tax books to help you do the returns.
because except under extreme circumstances,You can do it yourself, but I suggest getting a
they won't register with the taxman.If you haveprofessional to help you.Don't go to some guy or
unfiled tax returns, you need to file at least thegal advertising on TV with a big company. Go to
last 6-7 years. Although under law IRS coulda professional person or small firm where you can
make you go back and file that return from thetalk one on one with a CPA, Enrolled Agent, or
late 1970's when you were a disco diva or urbanTax Attorney. It doesn't have to be a local
cowboy, the good news is that as a matter ofperson, you could hire someone across the
policy they don't! In most cases, filing the last 6-7country. With email, fax, etc. you can avoid some
years will be OK and IRS will consider you inembarassment of going to a local tax pro if you
compliance. So don't procrastinate any further, filelive in a small town by hiring someone far away.
the returns if you made over the standardBut don't hire somebody without checking them
deduction and personal exemption amounts duringout. Read any contract they send you. Don't part
those years or were self-employed.People delaywith your hard earned money unless you are sure
filing returns for 3 main reasons:1. They are afraidof their qualifications.Members of the following
or embarrassed;2. They have lost the records ororganizations must adhere to high ethical
don't know where to go to get the returns done;standards and might be a good choice for you:
or3. Some crackpot advised them income taxesNational Society of Accountants (NSA); National
are bogus and that they don't have to file.Don'tAssociation of Enrolled Agents (NAEA); or the
be afraid of filing, be afraid of what will happen ifAmerican Insitute of Certified Public Accountants
you don't file. IRS could file for you and you might(AICPA). You might also look for professionals
owe more than if you would have done itholding the Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP) or
yourself or IRS could send somebody out lookingAccredited Tax Advisor (ATA) designation.Don't
for you. It is not a crime to owe IRS money, itlet your cousin Jimmy do your returns or that
can be a crime under some circumstances for notnice neighbor who says he is an expert. I have
filing a tax return or a false return.If you lost yourseen more screwed up returns done by friends
records relax, in most case you can get all yourand relatives than I care to remember. Get peace
income data from IRS so that you can prepareof mind, file those returns. You may owe money
the tax returns. If you had deductions, you maybut you may have a refund waiting. Guess what,
have to dig those up and organize yourif you file the return more than three years after
records.IRS is a legitimate government agencythe due date; you lose the refund!Here are some
and they can and do enforce the laws on filing asites that can give you more info:
Federal Tax Return. It sounds good when
somebody says IRS is a fraud, but it is a lie. We
all have to pay taxes. If you do not file, IRS can
file a tax return for you. Once that happens, it isRobert Coleman, E.A., A.T.A.