- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Tax law changes
Do you actually know what your taxes are? It sounds to me like maybe you didn't file tax returns? If you make a random payment without actually filing a tax return, the IRS will probably return the money and it won't protect you from an audit.
The IRS has 3 years to audit you, but the clock doesn't start running until you file, so if you never filed for a previous year, the audit clock never started and the IRS can come after you forever. To file for years before 2018, you will need to prepare your returns on paper using the IRS forms and instructions for each corresponding year, or find a tax professional. Turbotax is only supported for the current and prior 3 years.
If you had withholding from a W-2 job, it may be that you don't actually owe tax, and might have been due a refund. You can't get a refund that's more than 3 years old, even if you file a late return, but filing the return is still a good idea because it gets everything down on paper and starts the audit clock running.
If you had income from self-employment (declared or undeclared, under the table, etc.) then you probably owe taxes. If you owe more than a few thousand dollars, I would definitely go to a tax professional. They can prepare your returns, figure out what you owe, and then contact the IRS on your behalf to try and negotiate a reduced settlement. Beware of tax scammers that promise to make your tax bills go away. There's no reason to use a firm located in the Bahamas by phone or internet. Any good tax accountant can negotiate with the IRS for you, find an enrolled agent in your area who you can talk to face to face and who you are comfortable talking to.