How many years back can IRS go after you for unfiled tax returns?

The IRS generally has a 10-year statute of limitations for collecting taxes, but that clock doesn't start ticking until a return is actually filed or the IRS creates a substitute return on your behalf. For unfiled returns, there technically isn't a statute of limitations - they can theoretically go after unfiled returns forever. That said, in practice, the IRS typically focuses on the last 6 years for unfiled returns. Your cousin should definitely file that 2019 return as soon as possible, even if she can't pay what she owes right away. The failure-to-file penalty is much higher than the failure-to-pay penalty, so filing stops the bigger penalty from growing. For professional help, she could start with a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or an Enrolled Agent who specializes in tax resolution. Either can help prepare the missing return and work out a payment plan if needed. A tax attorney would be more appropriate if she's already under criminal investigation or if there are complicated legal issues involved, but that doesn't sound like the case here.

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Just wanted to update - I actually tried taxr.ai after posting my skeptical question. I'm honestly shocked at how helpful it was! They helped me recover documents from 2018 that I thought were long gone. Their document analyzer spotted a few deductions I would have completely missed, which reduced what I owed by almost $1,400. The best part was they didn't just give me the numbers - they walked me through exactly what I needed to do to file the late returns properly. Ended up being way less expensive and stressful than I expected. Wish I'd known about them sooner!

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Your cousin might qualify for "First Time Penalty Abatement" if she has a clean compliance history before 2019. This could waive failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties for that first missed year. She should definitely ask whoever helps her about this option! Also, if her situation was truly dire (like physical abuse, serious health issues, etc.), she might qualify for reasonable cause relief from penalties. The IRS sometimes shows leniency when there are genuine hardships involved.

Has anyone used TurboTax or H&R Block for filing old returns? Or do you have to go with a professional for something from 2019?

I really feel for your cousin - dealing with unfiled returns while recovering from a toxic relationship is incredibly stressful. The good news is that 2019 isn't that far back in IRS terms, and she's been compliant since then, which works in her favor. A few practical points to add to what others have said: If she had taxes withheld from her paychecks in 2019, she might actually be owed a refund rather than owing money. The IRS only has 3 years to issue refunds though, so she'd need to file by April 15, 2023 to claim any 2019 refund (which has already passed, unfortunately). But if she does owe, filing voluntarily before the IRS comes after her shows good faith and gives her more options. For getting help, an Enrolled Agent (EA) might be a good middle ground between a regular accountant and a tax attorney. EAs specialize specifically in tax issues and can represent clients before the IRS, but they're typically less expensive than attorneys. The IRS has a directory of EAs on their website. Tell her to breathe - this is fixable, and she's taking the right steps by addressing it now rather than continuing to ignore it.