Late filing taxes?
We’ve got your back.

If you don’t file and/or pay your taxes by the deadline, the IRS will charge penalties and interest. If you’re owed a refund, you won’t get it unless you file. If you’ve missed multiple years, you’re at risk for wage garnishment, bank levies, losing out on future refunds, and more. If you have past due returns or back taxes, it’s best to file as soon as possible and work with a tax professional to set up a payment or settlement plan with the IRS.

• Failure-to-file penalty: 5% of your unpaid taxes per month (up to 25%).
• Failure-to-pay penalty: 0.5% of your unpaid taxes per month (up to 25%).
• Interest also accrues on unpaid taxes; the interest rate is determined quarterly and is the federal short-term rate plus 3%.

The IRS Fresh Start Program helps individuals and small businesses resolve tax debt more easily through installment agreements, offers in compromise (OIC), and tax lien relief. To qualify, you would need to owe less than $50,000, have filed all your tax returns, and demonstrated financial hardship.

Yes, you can file tax returns for prior years. It’s important to file your taxes to avoid penalties and to avoid triggering more serious enforcement actions by the IRS like garnishment of your wages, liens, or levies. You might also be missing out on tax refunds!

Yes – but only for the most recent 3 years! The IRS allows you to claim a refund on a late tax return within three years of the original filing deadline. After that, your refund expires and the IRS keeps the money. For example, to claim a 2021 tax refund, you must file by April 15, 2025.

To catch up on years of unfiled taxes, start gathering your income documents (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) for each year. Then, you can file with tax software that supports prior year returns, work with a tax professional, or mail paper forms to the IRS. The IRS typically requires you to file the last 6 years of taxes to be considered “in good standing”. Keeper offers the convenience of software and expert guidance of a tax professional to help file your prior year returns with ease and accuracy.

While the IRS doesn’t report to credit bureaus, tax liens and unpaid debt can indirectly hurt your credit if they lead to collections or court judgments.

It can take a few days to several months to resolve back taxes. Timing depends on how quickly you gather all necessary documentation and which relief options (payment plan, Offer in Compromise, etc.), you qualify for. remitted. The longer you wait to resolve your back taxes, the more you’ll owe.