Can I use TurboTax or TaxAct to file 2 years of late taxes from 2020 and 2021?

You're definitely still able to use tax software like TurboTax or TaxAct to file your late returns! The good news is that if you're owed a refund from the federal government, there's no penalty for filing late. The IRS doesn't penalize you for being slow to collect money they owe you - though there is a 3-year deadline to claim those refunds. For your state taxes where you owe money, that's a different story. Most states do charge penalties and interest on late payments, and those continue to accumulate until you file and pay. The exact amounts vary by state, but typically include a failure-to-file penalty (often around 5% per month up to 25% of the tax owed) and a failure-to-pay penalty (usually 0.5-1% per month), plus interest. The online tax services can handle prior year returns, but there's an important detail to know: you'll need to purchase the specific software for each tax year (2020 and 2021). You can't use the current year's software to file previous years.

After spending hours on the phone with the IRS about my own late filings, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it completely saved me. I had a similar situation with missed emails about rejected returns from 2019 and 2020. The service analyzed all my tax documents and showed me exactly what I needed to do for each year. They have this document review feature that caught a bunch of deductions I would've missed trying to rush through my late filings. For late returns like yours, they're super helpful because they can look at multiple years at once and make sure everything is consistent. This was especially important since I had some 1099 work that spanned different tax years.

Just wanted to update that I ended up trying taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. I was skeptical because I thought my situation with 3 unfiled years was too complicated, but it turned out to be exactly what I needed. The document analysis caught some education credits I didn't realize I qualified for in 2020, which increased my federal refund by about $1500! They made it super clear which order to file everything in and exactly which forms I needed for each year. I used TurboTax for the actual filing process like they suggested, and everything went through without a hitch. Now just waiting on my refunds!

If you need to call the IRS about anything related to your late filings (which I recommend doing), save yourself the headache and use Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent TWO FULL DAYS trying to get through to the IRS about my late 2019 and 2020 returns, getting disconnected after waiting for hours each time. With Claimyr, I got a callback from the IRS in about 45 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they navigate the phone tree for you and hold your place in line. The IRS agent I spoke with cleared up my questions about penalties and gave me specific instructions for my state tax situation.

I have to eat my words and apologize for calling Claimyr a scam. After waiting on hold with the IRS for 2+ hours and getting disconnected TWICE, I was desperate enough to try it. Used the service yesterday, and I got connected to an actual IRS agent in about 35 minutes. The agent helped me understand exactly how to handle my late filings from 2018 and 2019, and confirmed that I could use TurboTax for those years as long as I purchased the correct year's software. They also gave me a reference number for my case so I can follow up if needed. Definitely worth it just for the time saved and stress avoided.

I just finished filing 3 years of back taxes (2019-2021) using TurboTax. One thing to watch out for - make sure you download the DESKTOP versions of the software for prior years, not the online version. TurboTax Online only keeps the current year and maybe one year back, but the desktop software can be purchased for specific prior years. TaxAct also works well for prior years and is usually cheaper than TurboTax. Both will calculate any penalties automatically. And definitely e-file if possible rather than paper filing - my paper-filed 2019 return took 11 months to process while my e-filed 2020 was processed in 3 weeks.

Something nobody's mentioned yet - if you're getting a federal refund but owe your state, see if your state has a voluntary disclosure or tax amnesty program! I was in your exact situation (owed for 3 years in California but had federal refunds coming), and going through CA's voluntary disclosure program saved me about 40% on penalties. Many states will reduce penalties if you come forward voluntarily before they come after you.

Yes, you can absolutely use TurboTax or TaxAct to file your 2020 and 2021 returns! I was in a similar situation last year with unfiled returns from 2019 and 2020. Here are the key things I learned: 1. You'll need to purchase the desktop software for each specific tax year - don't use the current year's software for prior years 2. Since you're owed federal refunds, there are no penalties from the IRS for filing late (they don't penalize you for being slow to collect money they owe you) 3. Your state penalties will vary, but most charge around 5% per month for failure to file plus interest The process is pretty straightforward once you get started. I'd recommend gathering all your documents first (W-2s, 1099s, receipts, etc.) for both years before you begin. You can file both years simultaneously - no need to wait for 2020 to process before submitting 2021. One tip: consider e-filing if the software allows it for those years, as it processes much faster than paper filing. Good luck getting this sorted out - it's not as overwhelming as it seems once you dive in!

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this exact situation! I had unfiled returns for 2019, 2020, and 2021 due to a combination of job loss and family health issues. Here's what worked for me: 1. **TaxAct was cheaper than TurboTax** for multiple prior years - saved me about $60 total compared to TurboTax's pricing for older versions. 2. **Gather everything first** - I spent a weekend collecting all my tax documents before starting anything. Having everything organized made the process so much smoother. 3. **State amnesty programs are real** - My state (Michigan) had a voluntary disclosure program that cut my penalties in half. Definitely worth checking if your state offers something similar. 4. **E-file worked for both 2020 and 2021** - Got my federal refunds in about 3 weeks each, which was way faster than I expected for late returns. The whole thing took me about 2 weeks from start to finish, and honestly, the anticipation and dread was worse than actually doing it. You've got this! The software walks you through everything step by step, and since you're getting federal refunds, the IRS will be happy to send you your money once you file. One last tip: If you have any self-employment income or complicated deductions, consider getting a tax pro to review everything before you submit. Sometimes the extra cost is worth the peace of mind.