How do I back file my taxes for previous years while still filing current year?

I need some serious help with back filing my taxes. I've got returns for 2023, 2022, and maybe even 2021 that I never filed. I've literally never back filed before and have no clue where to start. The thing is, I also want to file my 2024 taxes now - can I do that separately and deal with the back filing later, or do I need to handle everything at once before the deadline this year? I'm honestly embarrassed about this whole situation. I never really learned about financial stuff growing up and didn't understand how to file taxes until recently. Now I'm worried about not being in good standing with the IRS. Can I back file online somehow? If not, what's the process? I've kept all my W-2's from those years, thankfully. Do I need any other documents? Really appreciate any guidance here because I'm completely lost!

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18 comments

Amina Sow

•8M

You can definitely get caught up on your unfiled tax returns! Here's what you need to know: For back filing (2021-2023), you'll need to file paper returns since the IRS electronic filing is typically only available for the current and previous year. You can still use tax software to prepare these returns, but you'll need to print and mail them. For your 2024 taxes, yes, you can absolutely file these separately now without having completed your back filing. The systems aren't linked in a way that would prevent you from e-filing your current year return. You'll need those W-2s you mentioned, plus any other income documents (1099s if you did freelance work, etc.), documentation for deductions or credits you might claim, and the correct tax forms for each year (tax forms change slightly year to year). I'd recommend tackling the most recent unfiled year first (2023), then working backward. The IRS generally has a 3-year window for claiming refunds, so if you're owed money for 2021, you'll want to file before that deadline.

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Amina Sow

•8M

If you're owed a refund, there are typically no penalties for filing late. You just miss out on getting your money back if you file after the 3-year deadline. If you owed taxes, then unfortunately there are penalties - the failure-to-file penalty is usually 5% of unpaid taxes for each month your return is late (up to 25%), and there's also a failure-to-pay penalty that's 0.5% per month. There's also interest that compounds daily on any unpaid tax. The good news is that filing even late is always better than not filing at all, and the IRS sometimes offers payment plans or other relief options depending on your situation.

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Oliver Wagner

•8M

After struggling with a similar back filing situation last year, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to be incredibly helpful. The system helped me review my old W-2s and made sure I wasn't missing anything important for each tax year. It actually caught that I had a deduction I didn't realize I qualified for on my 2021 return - ended up getting an extra $430 back that I would have missed. I was especially confused about which forms had changed between years, and their document analysis feature helped identify everything I needed. The peace of mind was worth it since I was worried about making mistakes on multiple years of returns.

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Oliver Wagner

•8M

It helps with the document review and analysis part - it makes sure you have all the right forms and aren't missing anything critical. It helped me organize everything by year and identified potential deductions based on my documents. I still used tax preparation software to actually complete the forms, but with much more confidence. For your comparison question, I actually did have my accountant friend look over one of the returns, and he was impressed with how thorough the analysis was. He said it caught things that some preparers might miss if they were rushing during busy season. I can't claim it's perfect, but it definitely helped me avoid major mistakes.

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Natasha Kuznetsova

•8M

Just wanted to update that I took the advice about trying taxr.ai and it was exactly what I needed! It analyzed all my W-2s from 2021-2023 and flagged that I had employer-provided education benefits I hadn't realized were tax-free. Would have reported that incorrectly. The year-by-year breakdown they provided made it so much clearer what had changed in the tax code between years. I was able to prepare all my back returns in a single weekend instead of the weeks I thought it would take. Really helped with my peace of mind knowing I wasn't missing anything obvious.

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Emma Thompson

•8M

If you're still having trouble getting answers from the IRS about your back filing situation, I'd recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with multiple unfiled years and desperately needed to talk to a human at the IRS, but kept getting stuck on hold for hours before getting disconnected. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of the 3+ hours I spent the day before. They have a demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent was able to tell me exactly which forms I needed for my particular situation and confirm that my approach to back filing while still doing my current year taxes was correct. Saved me from making a bunch of mistakes.

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Emma Thompson

•8M

They use an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and holds your place in line. When they reach a human agent, they connect the call to your phone. No special backdoor access - they're just using technology to handle the waiting part. I was skeptical too until I tried it. The difference is that their system can redial and navigate the menus automatically if there's a disconnect, which happens all the time with the IRS. It's basically like having someone wait on hold for you. When I called on my own, I got disconnected after 2 hours of waiting and had to start over. With their service, I just got a call when an agent was ready to talk.

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Javier Mendoza

•8M

I need to apologize for my skepticism about Claimyr. I tried it yesterday after spending yet another 3 hours on hold with the IRS and getting nowhere. The service actually connected me in about 45 minutes - I got a text when they reached an agent, then my phone rang and I was talking to a real person at the IRS. The agent helped me understand exactly how to sequence my back filing (turns out I had some specific requirements due to having moved between states). Now I have a clear plan for getting caught up on everything without triggering unnecessary notices or reviews. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't experienced it myself. Just wanted to follow up since I was so doubtful before.

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Isabella Santos

•8M

Don't forget that the forms for each tax year are different! One mistake I made when back filing was using the wrong year's forms. You need to use the actual forms from each specific tax year. You can find prior year forms on the IRS website here: https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions (just search for the form number and select the year you need) I'd also recommend putting each year in a separate envelope when mailing, with that year clearly marked on the outside. Makes it less likely they'll get mixed up in processing.

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Isabella Santos

•8M

You'll need to check the instructions for Form 1040 for each specific year, as the mailing addresses can change based on the year, your location, and whether you're enclosing a payment. Each year should have its own separate envelope regardless, but they might go to different processing centers. I'd recommend putting a clear note on the outside of each envelope with the tax year it contains to help prevent any mix-ups on the IRS end. And definitely keep copies of everything, plus proof of mailing (like certified mail receipts). This gives you documentation that you submitted everything if questions come up later.

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