Non-Filer? Make it Right with the IRS

If you haven't been filing your tax returns for quite some time, chances are, you are have been harassed by the IRS now. The IRS may have already sent you notices urging you to settle your tax obligations now. Penalties, fines and even jail time are just some of the consequences of a delinquent tax payer. Before what started out to be a simple matter goes out of hand, you might want to set things straight now. At first, you may become apprehensive because obviously, you have broken the law. The fact is, you're basically putting yourself in danger with the IRS.

The truth is that no matter how gloomy you think things are, one of the first courses of action is to file all tax returns which you have not yet filed. Even if you are not sure of your financial capacity, you are still required to do this. But in the rare occurrence that you are entitled to a refund, there will be no penalties incurred. But if you take too long to file your return, you'll lose the right to get such benefit.

If you are a non-filer, filing your taxes will not only get your finances back on track but it will also prompt the IRS to stop harassing you for not filing your taxes. Depending on your specific case, matters could be as simple as this. Many people who haven't filed don't even owe the IRS anything. Initially, they just didn't have the hang of it and so they made excuses and did not file their taxes. Now, what was once a small issue became a major IRS problem.

When you have decided to finally file for your tax returns, you might want to ask the assistance of a tax professional. He/She can certainly help you out as you go through the process of filing and as you face present and subsequent IRS problems. Surely, his/her experience in the field will allow him/her to provide you with sound tips regarding IRS guidelines.

Be sure to bring as much information as you can when meeting with your accountant. Leave it to him/her to determine which documents are and are not needed. Examples of these forms are your W-2's, 1099's, receipts or supporting documentations for certain expenses, social security numbers of your dependents and a copy of the last tax return that you have filed with the IRS. Your tax accountant should have full access to all of these. The more information he/she has, the less taxing and more comprehensive will be his/her task of reconciling your tax record.

The two major benefits of filing your past tax returns as soon as possible deal with refunds and Social Security. A refund can be availed of only if you have filed for the corresponding taxes within a three-year period. Beyond this point, your right will be forfeited. Basically, this means that you are throwing away your money. If you have failed to file a tax return and are self employed, then you won't receive credits that will be carried over to your Social Security retirement or disability benefits. The IRS will have no record of your taxes so they can't report your income to the Social Security, thus, you won't be given tax credit.

 Darrin T. Mish is a Nationally recognized Attorney whose practice focuses on representing clients across the United States with IRS Problems. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbel and is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and the Tax Freedom Institute. He has been honored by a listing in Martindale-Hubbel's Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. His passion is providing IRS help to taxpayers with both individual and payroll tax problems. He teaches attorneys, CPAs and Enrolled Agents in the finer aspects of IRS representation all around the United States. He can be reached at his website at http://www.getIRShelp.com

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