| If you have unfiled tax returns and you want to know | | | | is best you file as soon as possible. You can't use |
| what your options are and what you should do, the | | | | electronic filing service for filing your back taxes. You |
| answer is simple, file your tax returns as soon as | | | | can either hand deliver it or send it via mail. If you are |
| possible. The longer you wait, the harsher the IRS | | | | sending it via mail then you must use certified mail to |
| penalties will be. Also if the IRS finds you before you | | | | make sure that it reaches the IRS. |
| file, you will likely face harsher penalties and even run | | | | If you don't have enough money to pay the back |
| the risk of going to prison. The good thing to know is | | | | taxes at the time of filing then you can make an |
| that the IRS has an unwritten policy that they won't | | | | agreement with the IRS for a payment plan. The most |
| prosecute voluntary filers, even if they haven't filed in a | | | | common form of payment agreement is an installment |
| decade. Some people think that because they haven't | | | | agreement. With an installment agreement, the IRS |
| heard from the IRS they are in the clear. What people | | | | allows the tax payer to pay back the taxes owed in |
| don't know is that the IRS works very slowly but | | | | monthly increments over a given period of time. If you |
| extremely efficiently. | | | | are having trouble recreating any W-2 forms or setting |
| Many people neglect to file back taxes because they | | | | up a payment plan, contact a tax professional as soon |
| have lost the necessary documents needed such as | | | | as possible. A tax professional can file your returns |
| W-2 forms. Even if you cannot find the appropriate | | | | and ensure you get the maximum deductions, even if |
| forms to file, you can always use IRS form 4852 | | | | you don't have all the information needed for making |
| which is a substitute W-2 that estimates what your | | | | the filing. Even if you still cannot pay this reduced |
| W-2 would have been for the tax filing year. You must | | | | amount, a tax professional can work with the IRS to |
| obtain the appropriate tax form for the year you are | | | | setup a manageable payment plan or settle the tax |
| filing, you cannot use the 2007 tax form for 2006 | | | | debt amount for even less. |
| taxes. Once you get the necessary documents then it | | | | |