Filing Order Question: Should I File 2023 or 2024 Tax Return First if I Missed Last Year?

You should definitely file your 2023 return ASAP before working on 2024. This is similar to how you'd handle back taxes from any year - chronological order matters. The IRS processes returns by tax year, and having your 2023 information already in their system will make your 2024 filing go much smoother. I was in a similar situation with 2021/2022 returns and filing in order saved me from a cascade of issues that my brother experienced when he tried to do it backwards.

Did you have any major life changes between 2023 and 2024? I missed filing 2022 because I moved across the country and completely forgot about taxes with everything else going on. When I finally remembered, I found that filing the older return first actually helped me establish my new state residency properly for the current year return.

File 2023 first. No question. Been there. Done that. Nearly lost my mind trying to reach IRS. Waited 2+ hours. Got disconnected. Three times! Finally used Claimyr.com. Got through in 18 minutes. Agent confirmed: always file oldest return first. They specifically warned about e-filing issues. Don't mess around with this. Trust me.

There's another important consideration here regarding Failure-to-File penalties. According to Internal Revenue Code §6651(a)(1), the failure-to-file penalty accrues at 5% of unpaid taxes per month, up to a maximum of 25%. By filing your 2023 return immediately, you'll stop these penalties from continuing to accumulate. Additionally, if you're due a refund for 2023, you should be aware that you generally have only 3 years from the original filing deadline to claim it, after which it becomes property of the U.S. Treasury. I'm a bit concerned that waiting any longer might impact your ability to receive what you're owed.

I'm not convinced the order matters as much as everyone claims. I had unfiled returns for exactly 2 tax years - 2019 and 2020. I filed 2020 first on February 12, 2022, then filed 2019 exactly 18 days later. Both were processed without issues and I received both refunds within 42 days. The IRS has separate processing tracks for different tax years, and I've never seen official documentation stating they must be filed chronologically. Has anyone actually seen this requirement in writing from the IRS?

While there's no explicit rule forcing chronological filing, I've filed returns professionally since March 2009 and can confirm doing them in order prevents complications. On January 24, 2023, I helped a client file three years of back taxes. The ones filed out of sequence triggered verification delays. The IRS representative we spoke with on February 16, 2023, specifically recommended chronological filing to avoid cross-year verification issues, especially with changing AGI figures and credits that carry forward. It's not required, but it's definitely the recommended practice.

I appreciate all the detailed responses here! Based on what I'm reading, it sounds like filing 2023 first is definitely the safer approach. The technical point about prior year AGI verification for e-filing is particularly compelling - I'd rather not deal with rejection codes and delays. One follow-up question: since my 2023 return is now quite late, should I expect any specific complications during processing? I'm wondering if late-filed returns get flagged for additional review or if they generally process at the same speed as on-time filings. Also, given that I mentioned having investment gains, are there any special considerations for capital gains reporting on late-filed returns that I should be aware of? Thanks again for all the guidance - this community has been incredibly helpful!

As a newcomer here, I want to echo what others have said about filing 2023 first, but also share a practical tip that helped me when I was in a similar situation. When you do file your 2023 return, consider using certified mail if you're paper filing, or keep detailed records if e-filing. Since it's late, having proof of submission date can be crucial if any questions arise later. Also, if you owe money on the 2023 return, you might want to pay any taxes due immediately when filing to minimize additional interest charges. The IRS continues to charge interest on unpaid balances even after you file the return. I learned this the hard way when I delayed both filing AND payment - the interest really adds up over time!