| If you've been lucky so far that your unfiled delinquent | | | | bulletproof. To survive this battle, you need the |
| tax returns have avoided the IRS's attention, your luck | | | | professional help of a good tax preparer, tax attorney |
| is about to run out. The IRS's increased enforcement | | | | or a Certified Tax Resolution Specialist. If you want to |
| means that every unfiled return will soon be coming | | | | take a preliminary stab at creating the unfiled tax |
| back to your door with as much as 25% penalties, | | | | returns so your tax attorne, the IRS has downloadable |
| interest plus the prospect of prison on federal felony | | | | forms and instructions going back to 1980 on their |
| back tax evasion charges. So if you've got a | | | | Website. |
| delinquent return, act now on the eight easy steps in | | | | If you can't get the forms for your unfiled delinquent |
| this checklist and you'll be able check the IRS off your | | | | tax returns online, you may have luck going to the |
| worry list forever. | | | | library (call the reference desk first) to see if they |
| Step 1) Don't panic, but head with all deliberate speed | | | | have the IRS forms you need from the previous |
| to your nearest tax attorney or Certified Tax | | | | years. If they don't have the late tax return forms for |
| Resolution Specialist for a tax relief consultation. When | | | | the years you need, contact a tax attorney or |
| you have an unfiled tax return, it weighs on you like a | | | | Certified Tax Resolution Specialist because they are |
| disease. Every late return eats at you, year after year, | | | | virtually certain to have the unfiled delinquent tax return |
| compounding fear until you feel like you're going to | | | | forms for the years you need. |
| explode. You need to tell your tax attorney how many | | | | Step 5) Verify that the IRS and you agree on the |
| years your unfiled returns have been ticking like a time | | | | unfiled tax returns. Once you have prepared the late |
| bomb and what (if anything) the IRS has written to | | | | returns yourself (or had a preparer do it), have a tax |
| you. | | | | professional check your version against the IRS's |
| If your late tax returns go back for a number of years, | | | | estimation of your back tax debt. Sometimes the IRS |
| you could be easily looking at many thousands of | | | | makes simple mistakes on their Substitute For Returns. |
| dollars in back taxes and up to 25% in penalties and | | | | The IRS may not know if you've had kids in the interim, |
| interest. A call to a tax professional is a financially | | | | or that your tax situation has changed substantially. |
| shrewd move because the return on investment can | | | | 6) Send your unfiled tax returns to the IRS the right |
| be huge, often slashing or even eliminating your debt | | | | way. Any late tax return is too important to send |
| for some or all of your unfiled returns. | | | | electronically. Go to your local IRS office and hand |
| Step 2) Start with the last year you filed taxes. Go | | | | deliver each return and get a reciept. If that doesn't |
| back to the last year the IRS got your taxes. You'll | | | | work for you, then send each return separately via |
| need figures from that return to fill out those unfiled tax | | | | certified mail and separated by a few days. |
| returns. | | | | Also note if you are told that your return is in the |
| Step 3) Make sure you have all the documents the | | | | collections or SFR (Substitute For Return) office. Be |
| IRS does. Go to your local Social Security office to get | | | | sure to get the proper address and sent each |
| copies of all the W-2s, 1099s and other documents for | | | | separately to that address. |
| the years you have unfiled tax returns. The IRS may | | | | Step 7) Send in each unfiled tax return with a check |
| have gotten a document that you didn't and this could | | | | for $5. Your interest and penalties for each late tax |
| be the source of some of your problem. For example, | | | | return compound with every day of non-payment (as |
| you may have worked with an out of state client and | | | | much as 25%). Stop that clock as soon as you can by |
| that may have meant you needed to file a tax return | | | | filing those delinquent returns immediately. |
| in that state. A good tax attorney or Certified Tax | | | | Step 8) Have your tax attorney devise an IRS |
| Rescan help you recreate your late tax return paper | | | | payment game plan. Can you pay your unfiled return |
| trail. | | | | debt in full? Should you? Should you try for an Offer In |
| 4) Figure out what your original tax liability would have | | | | Compromise? Should you try to get an IRS payment |
| been. Most tax attorneys and Certified Tax Resolution | | | | plan for your back taxes? Expert help can help you |
| Specialists work with CPAs, Enrolled Agents and other | | | | decide on the game plan that makes the most sense |
| professionals who can help you prepare your unfiled | | | | for you. |
| taxes. Since you know for a fact that the IRS will be | | | | If you follow these steps to solving your unfiled |
| examining these with a fine toothcomb, now is not the | | | | delinquent tax return problem, you can find hope. |
| time for amateur hour. | | | | Working with a tax attorney or Certified Tax |
| These late returns will get the IRS's harshest scrutiny | | | | Resolution Specialist is the best way you can get |
| so you shouldn't submit anything that isn't 100% | | | | many happier tax returns. |