| In elementary school, kids come up with creative | | | | not file, IRS can file a tax return for you. Once that |
| excuses why they did not bring in their homework. "My | | | | happens, it is very burdensome to get corrected. |
| dog ate it" or "It was stolen by invisible space aliens" | | | | If you havent't filed in years you can call the IRS at |
| might be given as a reason why something was not | | | | 1-800-829-1040 and after lots of time on hold and |
| turned in on time. Don't try those excuses with the IRS! | | | | maybe a few transfers, you will eventually get |
| Don't blame divorce, business failures, or family troubles | | | | somebody who can help you get your W2 info mailed |
| either, because except under extreme circumstances, | | | | to you. Your local library may have old tax forms and |
| they won't register with the taxman. | | | | tax books to help you do the returns. You can do it |
| If you have unfiled tax returns, you need to file at least | | | | yourself, but I suggest getting a professional to help |
| the last 6-7 years. Although under law IRS could make | | | | you. |
| you go back and file that return from the late 1970's | | | | Don't go to some guy or gal advertising on TV with a |
| when you were a disco diva or urban cowboy, the | | | | big company. Go to a professional person or small firm |
| good news is that as a matter of policy they don't! In | | | | where you can talk one on one with a CPA, Enrolled |
| most cases, filing the last 6-7 years will be OK and IRS | | | | Agent, or Tax Attorney. It doesn't have to be a local |
| will consider you in compliance. So don't procrastinate | | | | person, you could hire someone across the country. |
| any further, file the returns if you made over the | | | | With email, fax, etc. you can avoid some |
| standard deduction and personal exemption amounts | | | | embarassment of going to a local tax pro if you live in |
| during those years or were self-employed. | | | | a small town by hiring someone far away. But don't |
| People delay filing returns for 3 main reasons: | | | | hire somebody without checking them out. Read any |
| 1. They are afraid or embarrassed; | | | | contract they send you. Don't part with your hard |
| 2. They have lost the records or don't know where to | | | | earned money unless you are sure of their |
| go to get the returns done; or | | | | qualifications. |
| 3. Some crackpot advised them income taxes are | | | | Members of the following organizations must adhere |
| bogus and that they don't have to file. | | | | to high ethical standards and might be a good choice |
| Don't be afraid of filing, be afraid of what will happen if | | | | for you: National Society of Accountants (NSA); |
| you don't file. IRS could file for you and you might owe | | | | National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA); or the |
| more than if you would have done it yourself or IRS | | | | American Insitute of Certified Public Accountants |
| could send somebody out looking for you. It is not a | | | | (AICPA). You might also look for professionals holding |
| crime to owe IRS money, it can be a crime under | | | | the Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP) or Accredited |
| some circumstances for not filing a tax return or a | | | | Tax Advisor (ATA) designation. |
| false return. | | | | Don't let your cousin Jimmy do your returns or that |
| If you lost your records relax, in most case you can | | | | nice neighbor who says he is an expert. I have seen |
| get all your income data from IRS so that you can | | | | more screwed up returns done by friends and |
| prepare the tax returns. If you had deductions, you | | | | relatives than I care to remember. Get peace of mind, |
| may have to dig those up and organize your records. | | | | file those returns. You may owe money but you may |
| IRS is a legitimate government agency and they can | | | | have a refund waiting. Guess what, if you file the |
| and do enforce the laws on filing a Federal Tax | | | | return more than three years after the due date; you |
| Return. It sounds good when somebody says IRS is a | | | | lose the refund! |
| fraud, but it is a lie. We all have to pay taxes. If you do | | | | |