I have not filed taxes for the past 7 years, where do I start?

Question

I'm 25/single/m and I haven't filled since I turned 18. Do I need to file all of those seven years over again. I've been in and out of school and I don't believe any of these years I earned more than $25k. Is there a minimum amount that you have to earn to be required to file? Thanks!

Answer 1

the minimum is about $8000, so you could be looking at some hefty taxes and penalties - how could you not know you had to file taxes?  

Answer 2

I'd go to an H&R Block or other tax advice service and see if they want to give you some free advice. It all depends on the state and town you live in how much you owe there, but it sounds like you would owe some back taxes with the IRS as well. Of course, you might be eligible for all kinds of credits and deductions depending on your situation, so don't worry just yet. They might assess some penalties, but again, depending on your situation, an accountant might be able to help you avoid at least some of that. Better to start doing your research now though. Get some advice from two or three different accountants before deciding which way to go.

Answer 3

You have to file every year regardless of how much you make.  We've never earned more than 25k either, but we still have to file.  If I were you, I'd start with calling an accountant. I do believe you'll have to file all of the other years as well.  

Answer 4

Yes you need to file for all the years you didn't. Keep in mind that if you owed any money in any of those years you could be hit with interest and penalties. As for the penalty for not filing and getting a refund. I couldn't find an answer on the IRS website.

You may want to speak with an attorney 1st since it has been several years.

Answer 5

There's a minimum amount, but it's way smaller than $25K.  It goes up a little each year - for 2007 it was $8750 if you worked as an employee.  If your income was from self-employment, then the limit is only $400.

You need to gather up all of your tax info and file the returns.

The good news, if there is some, is that if you worked as an employee and got a W-2 for all of your income for those years, and the IRS hasn't come after you, then you most likely had refunds coming and don't owe anything more for taxes, or any penalties for not filing.,  If that's the case though, the bad news is that you have forfeited your refunds for tax years before 2005, since you only have 3 years to claim a refund.  You can still get your 2005, 2006 and 2007 refunds if you get those returns filed.

Answer 6

If you ever made more than 3K in a year, you were required to file.  Odds are you did that in a summer job alone.

I'd probably get a tax attorney or something if you feel you owe a lot.  Otherwise just file and let the IRS find you.... trust me, they will.  I have an uncle with garnished wages because he didn't file self-employed business taxes for 11 years and he just filed his second bankruptcy.

Answer 7

Just start filling this spring if you owe money trust me the IRS will find you.  

Answer 8

If you file now, for this year, and this is your first return, your past "non-filings" will catch up with you.

Bear in mind that every paycheck you have received was reported to the IRS.

Don't neglect this.  It won't get better, only worse.

If you have any records from the past 7 yeras, file a return for each year.  If you don't have those records, I would suggest a vist is in order to an IRS office.  They won't eat you alive.  They can help straighten out your life.  You can call your nearest office and make an appointment, avoid a long wait, which will probably result in nothing and require a return visit.

No doubt, you may not owe any tax for some of those years.

Do it now.  The IRS is initiating stringent measures to recover unpaid taxes.

There are billions out there.

25k is a taxable income.  You do have deductions which will result in 'adjusted income".

Answer 9

Call the IRS and ask them which returns you need to file. At this point, the most you would have to file would be 2002 through 2007, but if the phone representative is doing their job correctly they will determine which of those you actually DO have to file. For example, if they determine that refunds were due for 2002-2004, they won't require them and you needn't file because it's too late to file. If they determine refunds are due for 2005-2007, it's up to you to file to claim the refunds. They will simply document your account that they're not requiring them. If they determine you do have to file for one or more years, they will set a deadline and supply you with any forms or income documents that you need.

As for the minimum amount, it goes up every year and depends on your filing status.  

Answer 10

Any year that you made over about $7K (it creeps up a little every year), you have to file taxes.  So dig up W-2's and other paperwork from all seven years, and get to your local H&R Block office.  The keep at least one office in each city open year around just for this sort of thing, and the people they have there in the off-season are their best people and do this sort of thing all the time.

The good news is that if you never made more than $25K, you are probably due refunds for each year, and there is no penalty for filing late if you are due a refund.  The bad news is that you can only go back three years to get refunds.  But you need to do all seven years in case you actually do owe for those years, because the three year limit does not apply if you owe.

Answer 11

Were you a dependent of your parents during any of those years and did they claim you on their taxes?

If a dependent and you made more than$3000 you were required to file.  If not a dependent and you made more than $8000, you were required to file.  Dollar amounts changed over the years, so this is approximate.

Get last 3 years filed ASAP.  IRS doesn't have to send refund for returns filed more than 3 years ago, but that doesn't release you from obligation to file the return.  GATHER your W-2s and 1099s and file NOW.  Past employers and IRS can provide copies of past year's W-2s, but not immediately, so start getting them now.  Jackson Hewitt and Block can file past years for you, and you can do it online or with TurboTax, but get it DONE.  If you owe the IRS for past years, you have penalties and interest which keep growing.

And being under a rock for 7 years is NO EXCUSE!

Answer 12

You file them. The filing requirement varies year by year, but 25K is certainly over the filing requirement.

Do you have W-2s? If you were paid on W-2s and you lost them, the IRS can give you printouts of them. They can also give you printouts of 1099s.

1-800-829-1040, Be patient.

If you are receiving refunds on the returns, be aware that you are barred for refunds over three years. That means, right now, you can receive a refund on 2005, 2006, and 2007, but if you have a refund from prior years to that, it is gone, goodbye.

If you owe money, the IRS may assess penalties and interest.