Tag: prior year tax

Posts Tagged ‘prior year tax’

Prior Year Tax Return

Posted by admin on November 22, 2021
Last modified: November 22, 2021

What is a “tax year” and a “tax season,” and what is the difference?

The “tax year” in the United States refers to the twelve-month period to be used when determining your taxable income and any tax-deductible expenditures.

For most individual taxpayers, this runs from January 1 to December 31 for any given year. This is the year-long accounting period when you either pay or withhold taxes, keep your paper and digital records, and report your income and expenses. 

On the other hand, the corresponding “tax season” refers to the period from January 1 until April 15 of any current year to prepare and electronically file your tax return. It ends on the due date for filing your tax return.

Extensions for filing your tax return are possible, which can give you an extra six months to prepare and file your tax return. This is why you sometimes see the tax season described as from January 1 until October 15.

So for the 2020 tax year, you would have from January 1, 2021 to April 15, 2021 to prepare and file your tax return on time. If you file for an extension, you would have from January 1, 2021 to October 15, 2021 to prepare and file your tax return on time.

prior year tax return
prior year tax return

Who needs to file taxes?

Each year, the IRS sets thresholds for minimum gross income. If you make less than this threshold, you don’t need to file a tax return unless there are special circumstances, and if you make more, you need to file your tax return.

For the 2020 tax year, this means that typically if you are a single person under 65 years old, you don’t need to file a tax return in 2021 if you made less than $12,000. Likewise, if you are the head of your household, you typically don’t need to file your tax return in 2021 if you made less than $18,650.

Is there a deadline to file prior year taxes?

If you expect a tax refund, you have three years from the original tax return deadline to file your prior year tax return and claim your refund. When you are eligible for a tax refund, there is no worry about penalties here.

If you owe taxes, there is no deadline to file a prior year tax return. However, you should be aware of late filing and late payment penalties from the IRS in this case.

In most instances, the IRS requires individuals to file their tax returns for the last six tax years, if required to file, to be considered squared away and in good standing with the IRS.

Can you still claim a refund when you file a prior year tax return?

Yes, it is possible to claim a refund for a prior year tax return if you are eligible. For most circumstances, you are eligible for a tax refund when you have paid more tax during a given tax year than you actually owe.

However, there is a deadline to claim a tax refund. You will need to make your claim for a refund within three years of the original deadline to file your tax return.

So you have until April 15, 2023 to claim a refund on your 2019 taxes. You have until April 15, 2022 to claim a refund on your 2018 taxes. And you had until May 17, 2021 to claim a refund on your 2017 taxes. (In 2021, the IRS automatically extended the last day to file your taxes to May 17.) Use our Tax Calculator to get a better idea of your return

After the deadline, any unclaimed amount of excess taxes paid goes to the U.S. Treasury.

If you believe you are owed a refund from the IRS for prior year tax, don’t wait any longer to get your back taxes in order. PriorTax can help you get your prior year tax taken care of today.

Why is it a good idea to file prior year taxes even if you cannot pay right now?

The IRS has both late filing and late payment penalties for when you did not file a tax return when you needed to do so. In addition, your outstanding prior year tax balance continues to accrue interest each month that you let it go unpaid.

However, in most cases it is a good idea to file your prior year taxes even if you are not in the position to pay all of what you owe right now. This is because the IRS’ late filing penalty will usually work out to be larger than their late payment penalty.

If you owe a significant amount to the IRS but cannot pay the full balance, you should still file your prior tax returns. You should then get in touch with the IRS to work out a payment plan so that you can pay it off according to what you can afford.

Filing your prior tax returns can stop the more considerable filing penalties, and with a payment plan in place, you can avoid more severe collection enforcement for your unpaid tax bill.

To get help getting your prior year tax returns in order, get in touch today. First, you pick the tax years you want to file. Then we help you to file your tax returns, answer any questions along the way, and review and prep the documents for you to download, print, sign, and mail off.

How do I obtain my prior tax returns?

There are times when you cannot obtain copies of your tax documents, like W-2 forms from employers or 1099 forms from your bank or for your other sources of income. In that case, you can request a free tax transcript from the IRS summarizing your return information. They are available for the current tax year and for the past three years.

However, there are also times when you need an actual copy of your prior tax returns rather than a summary. Then, in that case, you can request them from the IRS for a fee. They are available for the current tax year and for the past six years.

Can I Still File My 2019 Taxes

Posted by admin on November 9, 2021
Last modified: November 9, 2021

Have you recently wondered, can I still file my 2019 taxes electronically or file them at all?

Now that it’s October, you may be seeing reminders popping up online, in the news, or on TV about filing your tax returns for the year. That’s because, just like April 15 each year, October 15 is also a tax filing deadline.

April 15 is the annual deadline to file federal income tax returns for the previous calendar year.

October 15 is the annual extended deadline to file federal income tax returns for the previous calendar year.

You can file for an extension before the April 15 filing deadline. Then, you have until the October 15 deadline to file your tax returns before you become liable for late fees or additional interest.

With these current deadlines for 2020 taxes on the horizon, if you didn’t file a tax return for your 2019 taxes, you may be wondering if it is too late. Can I still file my 2019 taxes electronically? Or can I still file my 2019 taxes at all?

file 2019 taxes
file 2019 taxes

So, can I still file my 2019 taxes?

Yes, you can still file my 2019 taxes. And there are many reasons why it can be a good idea to file my 2019 taxes at this point.

While the deadline to file your 2019 taxes on time was July 15, 2020, there is no deadline to file your prior year’s taxes. However, there are some dates you need to be aware of if you think you are owed a tax refund — more on that in a bit.

If you made more than the minimum gross income set by the IRS for the 2019 tax year, you could benefit from filing my 2019 tax return, even if late. This is true both if you can expect a tax refund or if you owe taxes. You can use our 2019 Tax Calculator to calculate your estimated expected tax refund or tax bill.

The minimum gross income threshold set by the IRS takes into account four different factors:

  • if you are claimed as a dependent by someone else
  • if you are married or single
  • your age
  • if you are blind

For the 2019 tax year, if you were a single person under 65 years of age, this worked out to you in most cases not needing to file a tax return in 2020 if you made less than $12,200. If you were the head of your household, you typically weren’t required to file your 2019 tax return in 2020 if you made less than $18,350.

If you still need to file your 2019 taxes, get in touch today. PriorTax.com can help you file your prior tax returns and answer any questions you may have during the process. We can review and prep your documents for you to download, print, sign, and mail off.

10 Reasons to File Your Prior Year Tax Return Now

Posted by Manisha Hansraj on December 3, 2019
Last modified: December 5, 2019
prior year tax return

It’s not too late to file your taxes.

Life is never put on hold, even for tax season. Before you know it, the April and even October deadline fly right by. Then, you forget to file it next tax season and then the season after that.

However, although the deadlines go by, you should still file your prior year tax return. Here are some reasons why.

1. You’re getting a refund

One of the most important things to remember is that the IRS does not wait for anyone. According to the IRS, you have a three-year statute of limitations for refunds; meaning you can only claim tax refunds going back three tax years within the original April due date.

For example, if you want to claim a 2016 tax refund, your last chance to claim it is April 15, 2020. This means you must file by that date to get your refund. Therefore, any tax years going back from 2016 cannot be claimed.

Check out our helpful tax calculators to determine your refund for relevant tax years.

2. The IRS can hold your current year refund

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How to File Your 2017 Taxes

Posted by Manisha Hansraj on May 31, 2019
Last modified: July 27, 2020

2017 taxes

Did you miss the tax deadline for your 2017 taxes?

Although you’re late, you can still file your late 2017 taxes. However, you won’t be able to e-file your tax return.

Dates to remember

The 2018 tax season ran from January 29, 2018, to October 15, 2018. The official tax deadline was April 17, 2018, due to April 15 falling on a weekend and Emancipation Day following after. The e-file and extension deadline was October 15, 2018; therefore, you are now required to mail your return to the IRS.

Can I still claim a refund?

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April 15, 2019 is the Last Day to Claim your 2015 Refund!

Posted by Manisha Hansraj on October 30, 2018
Last modified: April 23, 2019

2015 refund

Running late on your refund?

Refunds come and go when it comes to taxes. Luckily, for you, you can still claim the 2015 refund that you’ve been delaying. Just remember, you have three years within the original due date of your 2015 tax return to claim your refund.

This is due to the IRS Statute of Limitations, which limits taxpayers in claiming a prior year refund. After the three year deadline, your refund expires and goes to the IRS.

Don’t wait. Get the money you’re entitled to.

Will I be able to e-file my taxes?

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April 17th, 2018 is the Last Day to Claim your 2014 Refund!

Posted by Manisha Hansraj on January 16, 2018
Last modified: September 25, 2018


Don’t delay your 2014 refund.

Your 2014 refund is waiting for you. Luckily, the IRS allows you to claim your refund due to their convenient Statute of Limitations. However, you have three years from the original tax deadline date to claim your tax refund. With that in mind, if you wait three years after the filing deadline, your refund will expire. On top of that, if you fail to claim your refund, the IRS will collect it and you will no longer be entitled to your refund.

That sounds like a waste, doesn’t it? Read to find out what you need to do in order to claim your 2014 tax refund.

Can I still E-file?

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Unfiled tax returns have you drowning?

Posted by admin on June 6, 2017
Last modified: June 16, 2017

Overwhelmed With Prior Year Unfiled Tax Returns?

While most Americans finish or have finished their current year taxes, others have stacks of unfiled tax returns from previous years. You may feel swamped with the pressures of work and within a blink of an eye, you wake up to find an IRS notice in the mailbox. Let’s face it, life gets busy. Nevertheless, you have forgotten about those prior year tax returns, but the IRS hasn’t. Here are some common questions for those taxpayers who are stuck in the mud with unfiled tax returns:

Should I file my Unfiled tax returns?

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20 Facts About Filing an Amended Prior Year Tax Return

Posted by admin on February 7, 2017
Last modified: October 23, 2019

Did you take the wrong step with your tax return? Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Mistakes happen. If you filed your tax return with incorrect or missing information, the IRS will give you a chance to fix your mishap. Before insisting you 100% need to amend your return, though, take a look at our list of when you should, when you shouldn’t, and other need-to-know info about doing so.

What it is and where to file

1. Another name for an amended tax return is 1040X.

2. If you are amending multiple tax returns at once, you will need a prepared 1040X for each one. They will also need to be mailed in separate envelopes to the IRS.

3. You can prepare your amended tax return with PriorTax whether you filed your original return with us or a different tax preparer.

4. The address to mail your amended tax return is located here.

Fixing Information VS. Adding Additional Information

5. You don’t need to file an amended return for calculation mistakes. The IRS has calculators of their own which will update the information automatically on your return. (more…)

Calculate Your Prior Year Tax Refunds with Tax Calculators

Posted by Michelle O'Brien on January 5, 2017
Last modified: January 13, 2017

The IRS has never been keen on surprises. Know what to expect.

Whether you’re slightly behind on your taxes or up to date and ready to conquer tax season 2017, it’s nice to have a starting point. Taxes are intimidating if you go into it not knowing whether you owe the IRS or can expect a refund. Why not figure that out first?

 

Accessing prior year tax calculators online

With PriorTax, you can find out what your tax refund will be before you even think about the IRS. You don’t even need to create an account or enter any personal information at all. In fact it’s completely anonymous. And did I mention it’s 100% free?

We offer tax calculators dating back to 2011. You can access any of them by clicking the buttons below: (more…)

IRS Address to File a Late Tax Return

Posted by admin on December 15, 2016
Last modified: January 13, 2017

If you need to file a prior year tax return, you’ll have to mail it to the IRS…

Still need to get caught up on a prior year tax return? You’ll most likely need to paper file it. If this is the case, you’ll need the IRS address to send your return to.

You’ll be able to prepare any previous year tax return online, but you won’t be able to electronically file it. You’ll need to mail it to the IRS.

IRS address to file a late tax return

The address you’ll send your prior year tax return to will depend on what state you live in. Below, are five separate addresses on where to send a late tax return to. Please note that if you received a notice from the IRS with an alternate address, you should use that one.  (more…)