How to File Back Taxes – All You Need to Know

So many people fall behind on taxes because they don’t know how to file back taxes. Others may simply get too busy in life and fail to back taxes file. According to data from the IRS, over 14 million Americans owed back taxes in 2018. That’s over $131 billion Americans owe the IRS in back taxes, penalties and interest. Even though many Americans may owe the government thousands, they still don’t file back taxes. People fail to figure out back taxes file for a number of reasons. However, not all reasons for failing to file back taxes will be accepted by the IRS. If you owe the IRS money, they will do whatever they need to get it. Figuring out back taxes file is the first step to getting in good standing with the IRS.

Failing to File

There are many reasons for why people fail to file back taxes. Some people don’t know how to file. Others just run out of time during tax season because life gets in the way. But the IRS doesn’t accept a busy schedule for failing to file. Whatever the reason may be, it’s important to know how to get in good standing with the IRS. Getting behind on back tax file can cause even more financial hardship than you may be experiencing.

For example, say that Sally fails to file back taxes in 2016. Then, Sally fails to file again in 2017. If Sally didn’t back tax file, and she owes the IRS for 2016 and 2017, that’s double interest and penalties. So, Platinum Tax Defenders reminds taxpayers that, even in uncertain times, taxpayers must stay on top of their taxes.

How To File Back Taxes

The first thing to do when you need to back taxes file is consulting a professional. The experts at Platinum Tax Defenders have years of experience teaching clients how to get in good standing with the IRS. And, if your taxes are too complicated to file on your own, that’s even more reason to hire a professional. But here are a few things you should know before you back taxes file.

Steps for Filing Back Taxes

1. Collect your tax documents: Make sure you have W-2s or 1099s for the tax years for which you need to back taxes file. If you are eligible for deductions or credits, make sure you have supporting records to claim them.
2. Request any missing documents: When you’re figuring out how to file, you will need to request any missing documents. If you don’t have access to any missing tax documents from the past 10 years, request them. You can request missing tax documents by filling out IRS Form 4506-T. The IRS should be able to provide you with historical records to file.

However, when you’re figuring out how to file, it can take the IRS 45 days to process requests.

Preparing To File Back Taxes

As you’re figuring out how to file back taxes, gather your prior year’s IRS tax forms. You must always file on the original forms for each tax year you’re filing. The IRS should have access to these forms on their website. However, for speedy access to file, you can work with a tax professional.

Prepare Your Back Taxes File

Working with a tax professional is beneficial because it’s not always simple filing back tax returns. For example, when filing, you can’t use current-year tax forms. If you’re doing back taxes file for 2018, you have to use 2018 tax forms. Here a few more tips for how to file:

• Tax law changes every year. If you’re referring to rules for the incorrect year, you won’t correctly complete your back taxes file. So, it’s beneficial to work with a tax specialist on how to file back taxes.
• Also, you want to make sure the instructions you’re using for back taxes file is correct for the year. So, if need to file for 2017, you shouldn’t be referring to this year’s instructions.

Why Do People Fail To File?

There are many reasons why people get behind on back taxes file. So, here we provide you with a list of reasons why most people fall behind on their taxes.

Failure to File

Many people get behind on taxes because they fail to file. The U.S. government requires that you file taxes every year, as long as you reach a certain threshold. If you don’t file taxes, they add up over the years. Then, you have an issue with back taxes file.

Underwithholding

If you are employed, your employer is supposed to withhold taxes from your paycheck. However, you don’t always know how much your employer is withholding. You can get behind on taxes if the government doesn’t take enough out of your paycheck for taxes.

Estimated Tax Payments

Self-employed individuals and business owners must pay taxes on their own. Some pay on a quarterly or monthly basis, depending on their income. If you fail to pay estimated tax payments, you may have to pay a large sum at the end of the year. When you owe large sums and can’t pay it, that’s when you get behind on back taxes.

What If I Fail To File Back Taxes?

If you don’t file back taxes, and you owe back taxes, the IRS can take action. It might be in the form of a letter in the mail or a call, but the IRS will act. In some cases, the IRS can even show up at your home or at work.

What Can the IRS Do if I Don’t File Back Taxes?

If you don’t back taxes file and you owe, the IRS can take a number of actions, including:

• Tax liens
• Bank levies
• Wage garnishment
• Property/asset seizures

Additionally, the IRS will tack on interest and penalties to back taxes you do not pay. So, it’s important to learn how to file and pay because your debt will only increase. If you don’t know how to file, it’s imperative that you seek out help from a tax professional. The experts at Platinum Tax Defenders have been helping clients understand how to file for years.

Need Help With Back Taxes File? Call Platinum Tax Defenders

Platinum Tax Defenders wants to help taxpayers who don’t know how to file. If you need help with back taxes file, call the experts at Platinum Tax Defenders today. The experts at Platinum are motivated to help their clients file in a timely manner. And, our goal is to help you stay out of debt with the IRS. If you don’t know how to file, call us today. We’re currently offer free consultations to new customers. Visit www.platinumtaxdefenders.com, or call 866-866-8053 for more information. The experts at Platinum Tax Defenders are here to help you figure out how to file.