What this is, and what it isn’t
We don’t do regular yearly tax prep. We’re a tax debt firm. But most people who owe the IRS are also missing a few returns. You can’t fix the debt until those years are filed. So we prepare the back returns our resolution clients need, and only those.
When your written plan calls for back returns, they’re part of the flat fee for that step. That includes state returns and any bookkeeping we have to do.
First, we find out what the IRS has
We start by pulling your income records straight from the IRS. These are called wage and income records. They list the W-2s, 1099s, and other forms that employers, banks, and others sent the IRS about you.
Those records also tell us whether the IRS has already filled in a return for you. That’s called a Substitute for Return. It’s built only from the income others reported. It leaves out most of what you’re allowed to subtract. So it almost always says you owe more than you really do.
When records are missing
You may not have every paper. That’s normal. We work from what you do have: bank statements, old receipts, mileage logs, and your memory. For the self-employed, we rebuild what you spent to run the business, not just what you were paid. We only claim what we can back up.
Replacing the IRS’s version
If the IRS already filed for you, you can still file your own real return, and you usually should. The IRS will generally adjust your bill to match the real numbers. This is often the single biggest way to bring a bill down.
How many years?
The IRS’s own rules say they generally go back six years for missing returns. Older years can still come up. But in most cases, filing the last six is what gets you back in good standing. We decide year by year, based on your records.
State returns too
If you live in a state with an income tax, the state may want the same missing years. We prepare those along with the federal returns, so the numbers match.
What you’ll need to do
Gather what you can find, answer our questions honestly, and sign the returns when they’re ready. We handle the rest, including the IRS records, the math, and the filing.
How long it takes
It depends on how many years are missing and how good your records are. One year with simple W-2 income is quick. Several years of business income takes longer. We’ll give you a realistic timeline once we see what’s missing.
What can go wrong
Refunds can run out. You usually have three years from the due date to claim a refund. After that, the IRS keeps it.
The real return can show more income. Sometimes the IRS didn’t know about all of it. We’ll tell you before anything is filed.
Filing doesn’t make the debt disappear. It gets the number right. Then we work on what’s left, starting with penalties that may come off.
