Preparing and filing prior year tax return

[till5]

A relative has asked me to help prepare and file tax returns for prior tax years 2018, -19, and -20.  Can I use recently installed TurboTax (current version) for Tax Year 2021 or do I need to use a different, discrete version of TT for each respective tax year?

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry yes you need to buy each year separately.   You can buy the last 3 years of Turbo Tax here,

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

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

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

You will have to print and mail in the returns.  And if you are doing more than 1 year, send each year in a separate envelope. Sometimes the IRS will just staple all the sheets together and miss a second return.  Be sure to attach copies of your W2s and any 1099s that have withholding on them.  Don't forget state.  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.

Or if you have a simple return you can get the blank forms from the IRS and fill them in by hand for free.  I have a list of some of the basic ones I can post a direct link to.

[Critter-3]

For the 2018 return ... if there is a refund ... you have until 4/15/2022 to get that in the mail or the refund is forfeited ... do NOT wait to the last minute to mail in that return ... file it ASAP.