[Ask the Tax Whiz] Consequences of non-filing, non-payment of tax returns (2024)

FAQs

What are the consequences of not filing a tax return? ›

The Failure to File penalty is 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month that a tax return is late. The penalty won't exceed 25% of your unpaid taxes.

You can contact a tax professional or the IRS for help with filing delinquent returns. If you are unable to fully pay any tax due on the late returns, do not let this prevent you from filing as payment options may be available.

Tax liens and collections calls may follow

Liens are often public records. That means that even if they're not on your credit report, liens could affect your ability to get loans, get a job or keep a security clearance. Filing for bankruptcy may not necessarily get rid of the lien or your tax bill.

If you haven't filed in over 20 years and you send in a tax return from the 1990s with a payment, the IRS probably isn't going to send the return or the payment back to you. The agency will gladly take your money. Luckily, however, in most cases, you only need to file the last six years if you get behind.

Such as tax garnishments or property restrictions, wage deductions, or the seizure of your assets. If you haven't filed taxes in 10 years: The IRS might have already taken legal action against you. Worse, you may face tax evasion charges resulting in higher penalties or jail time.

However, the statute of limitations for the IRS to assess and collect any outstanding balances doesn't start until a return has been filed. In other words, there's no statute of limitations for assessing and collecting the tax if no return has been filed.

Some taxpayers may get so tied up in the stress of it all that they simply avoid filing taxes for the prior year or forget due to many other duties pulling at their time. You may even be wondering: How far back can the IRS go for unfiled taxes? The simple answer is six years.

6 years - If you don't report income that you should have reported, and it's more than 25% of the gross income shown on the return, or it's attributable to foreign financial assets and is more than $5,000, the time to assess tax is 6 years from the date you filed the return.

If you cannot afford to pay your taxes, the IRS will not send you to jail. However, you can face jail time if you commit tax evasion or fraud. The tax attorneys at The W Tax Group can help you navigate the tax code. If you're having trouble with the IRS, contact us today.

What happens if you don't file by April 18? ›

If you don't file your taxes by the deadline, you may have to pay a penalty on the amount you owe. If you're eligible for a refund, your refund payment may be delayed if you file late. If it looks like you may be late in submitting your return, you can apply for a tax extension.

You can contact a tax professional or the IRS for help with filing delinquent returns. If you are unable to fully pay any tax due on the late returns, do not let this prevent you from filing — payment options may be available. For more details, ask your tax professional or an IRS representative.

It's illegal. The law requires you to file every year that you have a filing requirement. The government can hit you with civil and even criminal penalties for failing to file your return.

Each tax year has to be filed separately using the forms for the specific tax year. They cannot be combined in any way--do not even put them in the same envelope when you mail them. Software for past years is available back to 2019.

Some people say they didn't feel like opening the mail, or they don't have the time to do their taxes...Then there's the Americans who just don't have the money to pay their taxes, or who are overwhelmed by the whole tax filing process.

If you qualified for federal tax credits or refunds in the past but didn't file tax returns, you may be able to collect the money by filing back taxes. However, the IRS only allows you to claim refunds and tax credits within three years of the tax return's original due date.