how do i know what years i retroactively need to file? no income since 2016, two kids since 2023. others have supported me. i want to be up to date.

[lualeil]

i have been unable to work since 2016 due to diagnosed ptsd. i have been a stay at home mom since 2023, two kids now. i have filed some years and not others. how do i know which years i need to go back and account for? others have paid for my expenses. i tried to open a bank account online and thought i saw a paper that said i owe money to the irs. i signed into the irs online portal but indication of money owed. how do i proceed? i dont have the money to take this to an accountant, but i would just like to be “up to date” with the irs. thank you

[xmasbaby0]

If you have had no taxable income then you have not had a requirement to file tax returns, and doing so would be of no advantage for you.   If you have not had income from working, you are not eligible for refundable child-related credits like earned income credit or child tax credit.   There has been one year---and only that year-- 2021 for which you could get the child tax credit even if you did not work.  But it is too late to file a 2021 tax return to seek that credit.

If you --- and your children -- are being supported by someone else, all of you can likely be claimed as dependents of the person who is supporting you.

Who has to file?

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Do-I-Need-to-File-a-Tax-Return%3F