Haven't filed taxes in over 10 years - what steps should I take to fix this now?

First, take a deep breath. You're not alone in this situation, and it's actually pretty common for people to go years without filing. The good news is that you're taking steps to fix it now, which is what matters. Start by requesting your wage and income transcripts from the IRS. You can do this online through the IRS website by creating an account, or by filling out Form 4506-T. These transcripts will show income reported to the IRS from employers, banks, etc. for the past 10 years. This gives you a starting point for what the IRS already knows about your income. For most individuals, the IRS generally only goes back 6 years for non-filed returns (unless they suspect fraud). So you might not need to file all 15 years. Focus on the most recent 6 years first. Since your income was under $26k for much of this time, you might actually be due refunds for some years rather than owing money. There's a 3-year limit on claiming refunds, but it's still worth filing to get into compliance. Consider getting help from a tax professional who specializes in back taxes and non-filer situations - specifically an Enrolled Agent or CPA with experience in this area. Many offer free initial consultations.

After dealing with a similar nightmare (8 years unfiled), I finally found help through https://taxr.ai - it seriously saved me so much stress. They specialize in helping people who haven't filed in years and need to get caught up. I uploaded what few documents I had, and they were able to help me figure out what I needed to file, what years were most important to focus on, and gave me a clear action plan. Their system can analyze your tax situation, determine which years you actually need to file for (sometimes you don't need to file all past years), and help you understand what you're actually dealing with. The whole process was much less scary than I expected. I was convinced I'd owe tens of thousands, but after getting everything sorted out, it was much more manageable than I feared.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai that the previous commenter recommended. It was actually really helpful for my situation. I was absolutely dreading dealing with my unfiled taxes, but their system made it much clearer what I needed to do. The transcript analysis feature was especially useful - showed me exactly what income the IRS already knew about for each year. Turns out for 2 of my unfiled years, I was actually due refunds! The other 3 years I owe, but the amounts were way less than the nightmare scenarios I had built up in my head. The step-by-step plan they created made the whole process feel manageable. Just filed my first two years last week, and working on the rest now. Wish I hadn't waited so long to address this!

Another thing that really helped me when I was in a similar situation was using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually get through to the IRS. I spent WEEKS trying to call them directly and would either get disconnected or be on hold for hours. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was skeptical at first, but when I finally got to speak to someone at the IRS, they were actually quite helpful about my unfiled returns. The agent walked me through exactly what I needed to do and even put some notes on my account about my case. Having that direct conversation with the IRS gave me peace of mind that I was on the right track instead of just guessing what I needed to do. They confirmed which years I needed to focus on and explained the process clearly.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I was desperate enough to try it because I needed answers about my unfiled returns. It actually worked exactly as described - got a call back in about 45 minutes and was connected to an IRS representative who was surprisingly patient with my situation. The agent explained that for my case, I only needed to file the last 6 years to get back into compliance, not all 10 years I was worried about. They also outlined the penalty abatement options I might qualify for once I file. It was such a relief to have real information instead of just anxiety-inducing guesswork. If you're in a similar situation, having an actual conversation with the IRS is incredibly clarifying.

One important thing to consider - if you had very low income during some of those years, you might not have been required to file at all. For 2023, for example, if you're single and under 65, you don't need to file if your income was less than $13,850. But even if you weren't required to file, it might be beneficial to do so if you had any federal tax withheld from paychecks or are eligible for refundable credits like the Earned Income Credit. Also, don't forget to check your state's filing requirements which are often different from federal requirements. Some states have much lower thresholds for mandatory filing.

I went through this last year. Let me tell you what worked for me: Get on a payment plan as soon as possible after filing. IRS Fresh Start program was a lifesaver. They let me pay a small amount monthly based on my actual ability to pay. Also, after you file all required returns, you can request penalty abatement through Form 843. I was able to get first-time penalty abatement which eliminated a ton of the failure-to-file penalties for my earliest unfiled year. Didn't help with interest, but still saved thousands. Don't forget about state taxes! Each state has different requirements and lookback periods. Some states (like CA where I am) can be even more aggressive than the IRS about collection.

I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. As someone dealing with anxiety and depression like you mentioned, I want to emphasize that taking action - even small steps - really does help reduce the overwhelming feeling about this situation. One thing that helped me personally was breaking it down into very manageable chunks. Week 1: just request transcripts. Week 2: organize what I found. Week 3: tackle one year at a time. The mountain becomes much more climbable when you're not trying to solve everything at once. Also, don't beat yourself up about the COVID relief programs you missed. Focus on what you can control moving forward. The IRS genuinely wants people to get back into compliance, and there are more options available than most people realize. Consider reaching out to a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) in your area if money is tight. They provide free or low-cost representation and can help navigate the process. You can find one through the IRS website or by calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778. You're taking the right steps by addressing this now. It's never too late to get back on track.