Can I e-file my 2023 tax return in 2025? Options for filing prior year returns

Unfortunately, the message you're seeing is correct. As an individual taxpayer, you cannot e-file prior year returns yourself - only current year returns can be e-filed directly by taxpayers. Only authorized tax professionals who use professional tax software have the ability to e-file returns from previous years. The IP PIN option mentioned is actually for people who already have an IP PIN assigned to them (usually due to identity theft protection), not a way to gain e-filing ability for prior years. Getting an IP PIN won't solve your problem in this case. At this point, your best option is to mail in your 2023 return. It's not as convenient as e-filing, but it's a straightforward process. Make sure you sign and date your return, attach any required W-2s or other income documents, and mail it to the appropriate IRS address for your location. I'd recommend using certified mail with a return receipt so you have proof of when it was delivered.

I went through something similar last year with my 2022 taxes. After lots of frustration, I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was super helpful for getting my prior year returns sorted out. They have this AI tool that analyzes your tax documents and helps identify the right forms/requirements for prior year filings. Since I was confused about all the rules for late returns and penalties, their system helped me understand exactly what I needed to do. For your situation specifically, they can clarify the whole e-filing vs. paper filing options, including whether you might actually qualify for e-filing through certain channels. They also help with making sure everything is properly documented if you do need to mail it, which gives peace of mind when dealing with the IRS on late filings.

Just wanted to follow up - I was skeptical about taxr.ai at first, but I decided to give it a shot with my unfiled 2023 return. Honestly, it was pretty impressive. I uploaded my W-2s and other documents, and their system identified that I actually qualified for a first-time penalty abatement that I had no idea about. They helped me prepare the correct letter to include with my paper return requesting the abatement. The process was way more straightforward than I expected, and they explained everything in normal human language instead of IRS-speak. Still had to mail in my return like everyone else with prior year filings, but at least I'm confident it was done right. Worth checking out if you're in the same boat.

If your main concern is getting confirmation that the IRS received your return, use Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually speak with an IRS agent. I tried for WEEKS to get through to the IRS about my 2022 return that I had to mail in, but kept getting disconnected or told to call back later. Then I found this service that basically waits on hold with the IRS for you, then calls you when an agent is ready to talk. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c After I mailed my return, I used their service to confirm the IRS had received it and get an estimated processing time. Saved me hours of frustration and hold music. The agent even looked up my account and verified everything was being processed correctly. Way better than checking "Where's My Refund" constantly and getting no information.

I'm eating crow here... after my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr because I also had issues with a paper-filed return from last year. I was convinced it wouldn't work, but I was desperate after trying to call the IRS myself 5 different times. It actually worked exactly as advertised. I got a text when they were about to reach an agent (took about 90 minutes), then my phone rang and I was talking directly to an IRS representative. The agent confirmed they had received my return but it was in the paper processing backlog. She was able to verify my filing status and give me an updated timeline for when to expect my refund. Definitely worth it if you need to confirm the IRS actually received your mailed return. Saved me from sending a duplicate and potentially causing more problems.

One tip I learned from filing late returns before - make sure you're using the CORRECT tax forms for the tax year you're filing! This tripped me up when I filed my 2022 return late. The IRS changes forms slightly every year, and you need to use the forms specific to the tax year you're filing for. You can find prior year forms on the IRS website here: https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions (just search for the form number and select the appropriate year) Also, if you're mailing your return, make copies of EVERYTHING before sending, including W-2s and any other documents you attach. You never know when you'll need proof of what you submitted.

Anyone know if there's a penalty for filing a prior year return this late? I'm in a similar situation with my 2023 taxes and wondering how much extra I'm gonna have to pay 😬

Just to add some context to what others have mentioned about penalties - if you're getting a refund on your 2023 return, you're actually in a pretty good position despite filing late. The IRS doesn't penalize you for filing late when they owe YOU money, so you won't face any failure-to-file penalties. However, if you owe taxes, the penalties can add up quickly. The failure-to-file penalty is much steeper than the failure-to-pay penalty (5% vs 0.5% per month), so even if you can't pay what you owe right away, it's always better to file the return to minimize penalties. One more thing - if this is your first time filing late and you end up owing penalties, you might qualify for "first-time penalty abatement" that someone mentioned earlier. The IRS will often waive failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties for taxpayers with a clean compliance history. You'd need to call them after your return is processed to request this, but it's definitely worth knowing about. Good luck with your mailed return! Make sure you use the correct mailing address for your state - it's different from regular IRS correspondence addresses.