Can I file my teenager's 2020 taxes in 2022?

[tommyfagan7976]

When filing our teenager's 2021 taxes, we discovered that we didn't complete e-filing his 2020 taxes.  Can we still file his 2020 taxes even though it's June 2022 now?

[VolvoGirl]

Not online.  Did you start it last year?  How to finish a return you started online,

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-finish-a-prior-year-return-that-i-...

Sorry it's too,late to start a 2020 online return or use the mobile app, either on Turbo Tax or the IRS.

To do a prior year return you have to buy the Desktop program here,

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products/

You will need a full Windows or Mac to install it on.

If you have a simple return and want to file for free you can fill out the forms by hand.  Here are some basic forms.....

Here is the 2020 1040 return

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040--2020.pdf

or if you want bigger type use 1040SR for Seniors,

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040s--2020.pdf

2020 1040 Instructions

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/i1040gi--2020.pdf

2020 EIC and Tax Tables

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/i1040tt--2020.pdf

Schedules 1-3

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040s1--2020.pdf

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040s2--2020.pdf

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040s3--2020.pdf

Don’t forget your state.  And you will have to print and mail your returns.  So be sure to attach copies of your W2s and any 1099s that have withholding on them.  You have to mail federal and state in separate envelopes because they go to different places.  Get a tracking number from the post office when you mail them for proof of filing.

Then when you file for 2021 you need to enter 0 for the 2020 AGI since you are filing late.

[NCperson]

@tommyfagan7976 - let's go back and see if it is even necssary .

even though it is 2022, you can still file a 2020 tax return...however, 

1) there is no filing requirement if your child earned less than $12,400 on W-2s.  If there are withholdings, the only way to get them back is to file, but if you don't want to go through the effort, the IRS won't care.  State filing requirements may be a little different, so check your state. 

2) there is no filing requirement if your child earned less than $400 on a 1099-NEC. State filing requirements might be different. 

The deadline for filing a 2020 tax return to get any refund due you is May 15, 2024.  After that date, the IRS will not refund any money due you (although if you owe taxes, you still owe).

[Hal_Al]

You do not report his/her income on your return. If it has to be reported, at all, it goes on his own return. If your dependent child is under age 19 (or under 24 if a full time student), he or she must file a tax return  if he had any of the following:

1.          Total income (wages, salaries, taxable scholarship etc.) of more than $12,400(2020).
2.          Unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains, unemployment, taxable portion of 529 distribution) of more than $1100.
3.          Unearned income over $350 and gross income of more than $1100
4.          Household employee income (e.g. baby sitting, lawn mowing) over $2300 ($12,400 if under age 18)
5.          Other self employment income over $432, including money on a form 1099-NEC

Even if he had less, he is allowed to file if he needs to get back income tax withholding. He cannot get back social security or Medicare tax withholding.

In TurboTax, he indicates that somebody else can claim him as a dependent, at the personal information section.