How to Figure Out if You Need to File a 2018 Tax Return 2018 tax returns are due April 15, 2019, but not everyone needs to file a tax return. Taxpayers most commonly need to file when they want a tax refund, when they earned more than the income threshold, or when they had self-employment… [Read More]
Important Notice: Consumer Alert from the Attorney General on “Tax Relief” ScamsWhat Is a Notice of Intent to Offset?
Notice of Intent to Offset If you receive a Notice of Intent to Offset, your tax refund is going to be seized and put towards debt you owe to the IRS or another government agency. As part of the Treasury Offset Program (TOP), your tax refund checks are matched against any outstanding debts you owe… [Read More]
What to Do When You Have Several Years of Unfiled Tax Returns
Unfiled Tax Returns Some people avoid filing their tax returns because they don’t want to pay taxes to the IRS. Other simply forget or don’t know they need to file. Whatever the reason, having several years of unfiled tax returns can create problems whether you are due a refund or have a balance due to… [Read More]
How to Handle a Notice of Substitute Return Filing
Letter 2566, Notice of Proposed Tax Assessment The first notice you’ll receive about a Substitute for Return (SFR) is typically a Letter 2566, Notice of Proposed Tax Assessment. When you receive this notice, the IRS is telling you, “You were supposed to file a tax return but didn’t, and here’s how much we think you… [Read More]
The IRS Can File a Substitute Return on Your Behalf
What are the Drawbacks to Letting the IRS File an SFR on your behalf? If you don’t look forward to filing your taxes, having the IRS file your return for you might not sound so bad. However, there are several drawbacks to the Substitute for Return (SFR) filed by the IRS:
File Back Tax Returns Before Submitting an Offer in Compromise
Pre-OIC Requirements Before you submit an Offer in Compromise (OIC) to the IRS, you must file all delinquent tax returns. If you send in an OIC and still have unfiled returns, the IRS will return your offer without even considering it.
Can You Still Face Penalties If You Get a Tax Filing Extension?
Reasons for Requesting an Extension There are two major reasons taxpayers request a six-month extension to file their tax returns: • They waited until the last minute, and now they don’t have enough time to file their return. • They can’t afford to pay their tax bill. While the IRS will give all taxpayers an… [Read More]
What to Do If You Need to File But Can’t Pay Your Taxes
Unpaid Taxes, Unfiled Returns If you owe taxes to the IRS, you owe the tax whether or not your file. Some taxpayers avoid filing because they can’t pay their tax bill, but this doesn’t do anything to eliminate the tax debt.
5 Repercussions of Failing to File Tax Returns
What Happens If I Don’t File My Tax Returns? The law obligates every citizen to pay taxes to the IRS if their income satisfies a certain threshold. Only dependents are exempted from this rule. Similar to any other rule, filing tax returns is mandatory; there are no other ways about it. Failure to file tax… [Read More]
What To Do If I Have Filed False Tax Returns?
Filing a False Tax Return Filing a tax return with deliberate falsification carries stiff IRS penalties. The tax agency does not take kindly or lightly to fraud; therefore, if you are accused of filing false tax returns, take your situation seriously. The long-term and short-term ramifications of falsifying income tax returns could be severe.