Filing Back Taxes Step by Step: What Documents You Need and Where to Start
Deciding to catch up on past-due returns is the hardest part. Once you have made that decision, filing back taxes becomes a matter of following a clear process rather than facing an overwhelming unknown. Better Tax Relief put together this step-by-step guide to walk you through exactly which documents you need, where to start, and when it makes sense to bring in professional tax relief services. Step 1: Figure Out Exactly Which Years You Need to File Before gathering a single document, you need to know the scope of the problem. The IRS generally requires the last six years of returns to be considered current, though this can vary based on your specific situation. Start by making a simple list of every year you did not file, going back as far as you can remember. If you are unsure, this is the first place where IRS back taxes help from a professional can save time, since a tax resolution team can pull your full IRS filing history and confirm exactly which years are missing. ...