Can I still claim my 2020 tax refund now in 2024? Is it too late?
Just realized I completely forgot to file my 2020 taxes until now (yeah I know, irresponsible). I've been hearing there's a 3-year window to claim tax refunds from the IRS. So here's what I'm confused about - since 2020 taxes were supposed to be filed in 2021, does that mean I'm still within the 3-year timeframe if I file now in 2024? Or am I calculating this wrong and actually missed my chance? I'm pretty sure I was owed a decent refund that year because I had a lot of extra withholding. Really kicking myself if I missed out on that money. Anyone know if I can still get that 2020 refund at this point or if I'm just out of luck?
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Jason Brewer
Yes, you can still claim your 2020 tax refund in 2024, but you're cutting it extremely close. The IRS gives taxpayers a 3-year window from the original tax filing deadline to claim refunds. For 2020 tax returns, the original filing deadline was May 17, 2021 (it was extended from the usual April 15 due to COVID). This means you have until May 17, 2024 to submit your 2020 return and claim any refund you're entitled to. If you file after this deadline, you will permanently lose your refund money. The clock started ticking from the original due date (May 17, 2021), not from when you actually file. You should gather all your 2020 tax documents (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) and file as soon as possible, either electronically or by mail with a postmark before the deadline.
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Kiara Fisherman
•Does this same rule apply for all past tax years? I just remembered I didn't file my 2021 taxes either. Am I still good to get that refund?
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Jason Brewer
•Yes, the same 3-year rule applies to all tax years. For 2021 tax returns, the original filing deadline was April 18, 2022, so you would have until April 18, 2025 to claim any refund for that year. I'd recommend filing both your 2020 and 2021 returns as soon as possible. While you still have time for both, the 2020 deadline is approaching quickly, and it's better not to wait until the last minute in case you encounter any issues gathering documents or completing the forms.
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Liam Cortez
I went through this exact same situation last year with my 2019 taxes. I completely forgot to file because of all the covid chaos. I tried getting all my documents together but was missing some 1099 forms from freelance work. I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) after struggling for weeks trying to track down old documents. Their system analyzed my bank statements and was able to reconstruct my income history for 2019, which literally saved my refund. They have this document recognition thing that picks up all your tax-relevant info and organizes it for you.
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Savannah Vin
•How does this actually work? Can they really access old tax forms from employers that I don't have anymore? My old company went out of business and I'm worried I can't get my W-2 from 2020.
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Mason Stone
•Sounds interesting but I'm wondering if there are privacy concerns? Do they store all your financial data permanently or just during the analysis process?
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Liam Cortez
•They don't directly access your old tax forms from employers, but their system can analyze bank statements, receipts, and other financial documents you upload to help reconstruct your income and expenses. In your case with the W-2, you might try getting your wage transcript directly from the IRS first, but their tool could help organize everything else you need. The service doesn't permanently store your financial information. They use bank-level encryption during analysis and then allow you to delete your data after you've completed your taxes. I was initially concerned about this too, but their privacy policy is pretty transparent about how they handle your information.
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Savannah Vin
Just wanted to update everyone - I took the advice about trying taxr.ai and it was a lifesaver! I was missing several documents from 2020 and was starting to panic with the deadline coming up. Their system helped me reconstruct my income from bank deposits and even identified some deductions I would have missed. Just submitted my 2020 return yesterday and it looks like I'm getting back almost $1,370! So relieved I didn't miss out on that money. Definitely worth checking out if you're in a similar situation with missing documents.
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Makayla Shoemaker
If you're having trouble reaching the IRS to get tax transcripts or ask about your 2020 refund eligibility, I highly recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent DAYS trying to get through to the IRS about my late 2019 return. Their phone system kept hanging up on me because of "high call volume." Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 30 minutes! They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they navigate the phone tree for you and call you when they get a human.
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Christian Bierman
•How is this even possible? The IRS phone system is notoriously impossible to navigate. Are they using some kind of special access or connection?
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Emma Olsen
•This sounds like a scam. How could they possibly get through when the IRS phone lines are completely jammed? I've tried calling dozens of times and never get through. Hard to believe some service could magically fix that.
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Makayla Shoemaker
•They don't have special access or connections - they use an automated system that continuously redials and navigates the IRS phone tree until they get through to a representative. It's basically doing what you'd do manually, just automated and much more efficiently. No magic involved, just technology making a frustrating process easier. They call you back only when they've successfully reached a human agent and then connect you directly. I was skeptical too but had been trying for weeks to get through on my own with no luck. Their system got me connected in about 25 minutes, which saved me hours of frustration.
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Emma Olsen
I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I was desperate enough to try it since my 2020 filing deadline is so close. To my complete shock, I got connected to an IRS agent in 17 minutes! The agent confirmed I'm still eligible for my refund if I file by May 17th and even helped me request some missing documents. I've been stressing about this for weeks, calling repeatedly and getting nowhere. Wish I'd known about this service sooner instead of wasting so much time on hold. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong!
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Lucas Lindsey
Don't forget that if you're owed a refund for 2020 but didn't file, there's no penalty for filing late! The penalties only apply when you owe taxes. But if you owed taxes instead of being due a refund, you would have late payment penalties plus interest accumulated over these years... which could be substantial by now.
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Sophie Duck
•What about if you're right on the edge - like if you might owe a small amount or get a small refund but aren't 100% sure? Is it worth filing if there's a chance you might end up owing + penalties?
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Lucas Lindsey
•If you're unsure whether you'll owe taxes or receive a refund, it's still worth filing. If you do end up owing a small amount, you can work with the IRS on a payment plan, and you might qualify for penalty abatement, especially if this is your first time with a filing issue. The longer you wait, the more potential interest and penalties could accumulate if you do owe. Plus, you'll never know if you were actually due a refund unless you file. Many people are surprised to learn they're owed money due to withholdings or credits they didn't know they qualified for.
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Austin Leonard
Has anyone actually filed a 2020 return recently using TurboTax or other tax software? Do they still support returns from that tax year or do you have to file paper forms?
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Anita George
•I just filed my 2020 return last month using TaxAct. Most tax software still supports filing for the past 3-4 years, but you usually have to pay for it - can't use the free version for prior years. I think TurboTax supports it too but double-check before purchasing.
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Omar Hassan
Adding to what others have said about the May 17, 2024 deadline - I want to emphasize that this is a hard cutoff date. The IRS doesn't make exceptions, even if you file just one day late. I learned this the hard way with an old return from 2018 where I missed the deadline by literally 3 days and lost out on a $800 refund. Also, make sure you have all your documents ready before you start filing. You'll need your 2020 W-2s, any 1099 forms, receipts for deductions, and possibly your prior year return for reference. If you're missing any employer documents, you can request wage transcripts from the IRS, but that takes time you might not have given how close the deadline is. One more tip - if you do file electronically, make sure to save confirmation that it was submitted before the deadline, just in case there are any questions later. Good luck getting your refund!
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Emily Jackson
•This is really helpful advice, especially about keeping confirmation of electronic filing! I'm in a similar situation and was wondering - if I'm missing some 1099 forms from freelance work, would it be better to estimate those amounts and file before the deadline, or wait to get the exact figures and risk missing the cutoff? I did some gig work in 2020 but can't track down all the companies I worked for.
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