Back Taxes in Illinois

Forum|Forum|2 months ago
May 9, 2026
1 reply
527 views

I e-filed but my return was rejected for 2018 and 2019. In 2020 I did not file. Now IL has demanded 17 thou in penalties and interest. At the time of filing Turbo Tax calculated my tax owed at about $130 for each year that I e-filed.

1) How can I download the documents from 2018 and 2019 from Turbotax so that I can file a paper return for IL?

2) How can I obtain what I need for 2020 if I no longer have my w2s from that year?

3) What is the best way to get this back tax load reduced to something that is fair to both parties?

xmasbaby0

Level 15

Seek help from a local tax professional. You need help from someone who may be able to negotiate with IL to reduce your tax debt. Frankly, you really messed up when -- instead of printing and mailing your 2018 and 2019 returns and paying your tax due at the time-- you just did not file and allowed the late penalties and interest to add up for years. As for 2020---TurboTax software is no longer available for 2020. Again---seek local paid tax help. You will need to get copies of tax documents like your W-2's from 2020 from the employers you worked for. Or you can pay Social Security for copies of W-2's.

Pay Social Security $62 per tax year for your W-2’s.:

https://faq.ssa.gov/en-US/Topic/article/KA-02501

You have made no mention of whether you have received taxable income since 2020 or if you have filed tax returns for 2021 onward.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

xmasbaby0

Level 15

If you used TurboTax to prepare returns for 2018 and 2019 the returns should still be in your TT account(s). You can try to find them to print.

You have to access your own account and/or print it for yourself using exactly the same account and user ID that you used when you prepared the return.

https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

Start a 2025 return online and enter some personal information so that the menu on the left opens up and lets you access your past year returns.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/27010

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/save-2021-turbotax-online-return-pdf/L8dHfRkpT_US_en_US?uid=m5y4ch1y

Many people have multiple TT accounts and forget how to access them. Log out of the account you are in now.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/account-management/many-intuit-accounts-turbotax/L9aVfKS1Z_US_en_US?uid=ll5g6zcx

Account Recovery

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/account-management/many-intuit-accounts-turbotax/L9aVfKS1Z_US_en_US?uid=ll5g6zcx

Or did you use the desktop version of TurboTax? If so, the files are on your own hard drive or any backup device you used like a flash drive.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-return/find-last-year-tax-data-file-tax-file-computer/L0XJvPaJr_US_en_US

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/data-systems/find-tax-data-file-mac/L4VNGm33S_US_en_US?uid=m6guhab0