Can I still file 2023 taxes in 2025 or am I completely screwed at this point?

Yes, you can absolutely still file your 2023 taxes! The good news is that if you're expecting a refund, there's actually no penalty for filing late. The IRS gives you three years from the original due date to file and still claim your refund, so you have until April 15, 2027, to submit your 2023 return. However, if you end up owing taxes instead of getting a refund, then yes, there would be penalties. You'd face a failure-to-file penalty (usually 5% of unpaid taxes for each month your return is late, up to 25%) and a failure-to-pay penalty (0.5% of unpaid taxes each month, up to 25%). Plus, interest accrues on the unpaid amount. The best approach is to file as soon as possible either way. If you're getting a refund, you'll get your money back. If you owe, filing now will stop the penalties from growing any larger.

I was in the exact same situation last year with my 2022 taxes! After stressing about potential penalties, I tried this AI tax document analyzer at https://taxr.ai that helped me figure out if I'd get a refund or owe money before I actually filed. You just upload your W-2s and other tax docs, and it gives you a pretty accurate picture of your tax situation. The coolest part was that it showed me exactly which deductions I qualified for even though I filed late. Turns out I was due a decent refund, so no penalties! It also helped me figure out how to e-file my late return since the regular tax software I tried kept giving me errors for the previous year. Made the whole stressful situation way easier to handle.

I was seriously skeptical about using an AI tool for my late taxes (like I mentioned in my comment). But after stressing about my unfiled 2022 taxes for months, I decided to try https://taxr.ai since I was desperate. Holy crap it was actually super helpful! I uploaded my W-2s and investment statements, and it immediately showed me I was owed a $1,450 refund. The detailed breakdown showed exactly why I was getting a refund despite filing late. I ended up using the information to file through FreeTaxUSA (they let you do prior years for a small fee), and my refund amount matched what the AI predicted. Got my check about 6 weeks later. If you're in the same boat with late 2023 taxes, it's definitely worth checking out just for peace of mind.

If you're trying to call the IRS about filing your late 2023 return, good luck getting through! I spent literally DAYS trying to reach someone to ask about my late filing situation. Then I found this service called Claimyr at https://claimyr.com that got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 20 minutes. They have this system that navigates all the IRS phone menus and holds your place in line, then calls you when an agent is about to pick up. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The IRS agent I spoke with explained exactly how to file my late return and what forms I needed. Saved me so much time and stress since the IRS website was super confusing about late filing procedures.

I have to eat my words about the Claimyr thing. After calling the IRS myself for THREE DAYS and never getting through (always got the "call volume too high, try again later" message), I broke down and tried the service I was skeptical about. Within 15 minutes I was talking to an actual IRS agent about my late 2023 return! The agent confirmed I could still file and explained that since I was due a refund, there would be no penalties. She even helped me understand how to request direct deposit for a prior year return. I filed my 2023 taxes the next day following her instructions. Honestly, I didn't think anything could actually get through to the IRS, but this thing actually worked.

Just FYI if you're owed a refund you only have 3 years to claim it or you lose it forever! So for 2023 taxes thats April 2027. But if you OWE money to the IRS there's no time limit for them to come after you lol. Plus the penalties and interest keep adding up. So definitely file ASAP either way!!!

Has anyone used TurboTax to file previous year taxes? Or do I need to use a different software for 2023 returns at this point?

You're definitely not screwed! I was in almost the exact same situation - completely forgot about my 2022 taxes until I was already filing my 2023 ones. The stress was real, but it turned out to be much less of a disaster than I thought. Since you mentioned you think you're owed a refund based on your withholdings, that's actually great news. As others have said, there are no penalties for late filing when you're getting money back. The IRS isn't going to punish you for being late to collect your own money! I'd recommend gathering all your 2023 tax documents (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) and just get it done. Even if you're not 100% sure about the refund, filing will give you certainty either way. If you do end up owing a small amount, the penalties probably aren't as scary as you're imagining, and filing now stops them from growing. Don't let the anxiety keep you from taking action - I put it off for months because I was worried, but once I actually sat down and did it, the whole thing took maybe 2 hours and I got a nice refund check. You've got this!

Don't panic - you're definitely not screwed! I work in tax preparation and see this situation all the time. The key thing is that if you're owed a refund (which sounds likely based on your paycheck withholdings), there are absolutely no penalties for filing late. Zero. The IRS doesn't penalize you for being late to claim your own money. You have until April 15, 2027 to file your 2023 return and still claim any refund, so you're nowhere near missing that deadline. Even if you end up owing a small amount, filing now will stop any penalties from growing further. My advice: gather your 2023 tax documents and file as soon as possible. You can use prior-year tax software (FreeTaxUSA charges about $15 for previous years and is very reliable), or visit a local tax prep office if you want professional help. Most people in your situation end up getting a refund and wonder why they stressed about it for so long. The hardest part is just getting started - once you sit down with your documents, you'll probably find it's much less complicated than the anxiety made it seem. You've got this!