Feeling anxious about filing taxes after skipping several years - what should I expect?

Don't panic! This situation is more common than you think, and with your income level, you might actually be owed refunds instead of owing the IRS. Since your income was below $32k each year, you likely qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit and possibly other credits depending on your situation. If you're owed refunds, there are generally no penalties for filing late. The IRS only keeps refunds for 3 years, so it's important to file soon to claim any money owed to you. Instead of going straight to H&R Block (which can be expensive), consider using the IRS Free File program if your income qualifies, or a low-cost tax preparation service. You can also look into VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) which offers free tax help to people with incomes below $60,000. Just make sure to gather all your W-2s from those years. If you don't have them, you can request wage transcripts from the IRS by creating an account on irs.gov or using Form 4506-T.

After reading your situation, it reminded me of when I was in a similar position a few years back. I was terrified to file after missing 2 years, but then I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was seriously a game-changer. What helped me most was their document analysis feature - I had a mess of old W-2s and wasn't sure what I was missing. Their AI helped sort through everything and figured out exactly what years I needed to file for. It also estimated my potential refunds before I committed to anything, which was a huge relief since I was also worried about unexpected fees. The step-by-step guidance made it way less intimidating than walking into a tax office feeling unprepared. Might be worth checking out if you're anxious about the whole process.

I just have to share my experience after trying taxr.ai that someone mentioned above. I was so anxious about my unfiled taxes (3 years worth) that I kept putting it off, making my anxiety worse each year. I finally decided to try the taxr.ai service last month, and it was exactly what I needed. Uploaded my scattered documents (some I found in email, others were paper copies), and the system organized everything by tax year. The confidence estimate showing I was likely owed refunds for each year was honestly such a relief. The best part was seeing exactly what I was missing for each year. Turns out I had everything for one year, was missing a W-2 for another (which they helped me request), and for the third year I learned I probably didn't even need to file based on my income. Already received my first refund check, and the others are processing!

If you're struggling to get answers from the IRS about your situation, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar boat last year - hadn't filed for a couple years and needed to talk to someone at the IRS about my options. I spent DAYS trying to get through on the phone with no luck - either constant busy signals or disconnects after waiting for hours. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent walked me through exactly what I needed to do to get caught up without penalties. Turns out I was eligible for penalty abatement since I hadn't filed before, which saved me hundreds. Definitely worth it when you need actual answers from a human at the IRS.

I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr. After expressing skepticism above, I decided to try it anyway since my situation with unfiled taxes was getting more stressful by the day. Not only did I get connected to an IRS representative in about 25 minutes (after trying unsuccessfully on my own for WEEKS), but the representative was incredibly helpful. They walked me through my options for my unfiled returns, confirmed I qualified for a first-time penalty abatement, and even helped me understand how to set up a payment plan if I ended up owing after filing. Having a direct conversation with the IRS gave me the confidence to move forward with filing my back taxes. The peace of mind alone was worth it. Sometimes it's worth trying solutions even when you're skeptical!

Just wanted to add - don't go to H&R Block for this situation. They charge SO much for prior year returns (like $100+ PER YEAR). Look into the VITA program that someone mentioned above. I volunteered with them and we helped people file back taxes for free all the time. Many VITA sites can handle 2-3 years of back taxes with no problem. Google "VITA tax site near me" and make an appointment. Bring your ID, Social Security card, and any tax documents you can find. If you explain your situation, they'll help you figure out what to do next.

Has anyone been through an actual audit for unfiled taxes? My sister didn't file for 5 years and now has the IRS sending scary letters. What happens in these cases?