I completely forgot to file my 2023 taxes and I'm terrified it's too late

3 Don't panic! While it's definitely important to file your taxes, your situation isn't as dire as you might think. The good news is that if you're owed a refund, there are generally no penalties for filing late. The IRS is much more concerned about people who owe taxes and don't pay on time. You should file your 2023 tax return as soon as possible. You have three years from the original filing deadline to claim a refund, so you actually have until April 2026 to file and still get your money back. The longer you wait though, the longer you're giving the government an interest-free loan with your money. If it turns out you actually do owe taxes (rather than being due a refund), then yes, you'll face penalties and interest. The failure-to-file penalty is usually 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month your return is late, up to 25%. There's also a failure-to-pay penalty of 0.5% per month. But again, these only apply if you owe the IRS money. My recommendation is to gather all your tax documents for 2023 (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) and file as soon as possible. You can still use tax software or consult with a tax professional to help you file your late return.

12 I was in the exact same boat last year! I completely forgot to file my 2022 taxes until like 8 months after the deadline. I was freaking out just like you, but then I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that made the whole process WAY easier than I expected. I uploaded my tax documents and it analyzed everything, figured out I was actually due a $1,345 refund, and walked me through exactly what I needed to do. The best part was it confirmed what steps I needed to take for late filing specifically and made sure I wasn't missing anything. The peace of mind alone was worth it! Since you mentioned you're probably due a refund too, you should definitely check it out. It'll save you hours of stress and make sure you're not leaving any money on the table.

17 Just wanted to follow up and say I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. It was seriously a game-changer! I was stressing so much about my late 2023 filing, but the system made it super straightforward and found a bunch of deductions I would have missed. Ended up with a $2,178 refund that I thought I might have lost. The step-by-step guidance for late filing specifically was exactly what I needed. Definitely recommend to anyone in the same boat!

9 I had a similar situation but with an extra wrinkle - I needed to talk to the IRS about my late filing options but couldn't get through on their phone lines at all. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. A friend recommended Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was able to ask specific questions about my late filing situation and get official answers directly from the IRS. The agent walked me through exactly what forms I needed and confirmed I wouldn't face penalties since I was due a refund. It was such a relief to get definitive answers instead of stressing about whether I was doing it right.

21 I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway because I was desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my late filing situation. Within 37 minutes, my phone rang and I was talking to an actual IRS representative! I nearly fell out of my chair. The agent was able to confirm that I wouldn't face penalties for my late 2023 return since I was due a refund, and gave me specific guidance on how to handle some investment income questions I had. Saved me hours of frustration and uncertainty. If you need to actually speak with the IRS about your situation (which I recommend for peace of mind), this service actually delivers.

5 Another option to consider - if your tax situation is fairly simple, you might qualify for free tax preparation assistance through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. They can help with prior year returns too, not just current year. The income limits are pretty reasonable - I think it's around $60,000 for VITA.

16 Has anyone dealt with the IRS sending notices after filing late? I'm worried that even after I file, I'll start getting threatening letters in the mail.

Don't beat yourself up about this - it happens to more people than you'd think! I work as a tax preparer and see late filers regularly. The key thing is that you're taking action now. Since you mentioned you're likely owed a refund, you're in a much better position than someone who owes money. Here's what I'd recommend: 1. Gather all your 2023 tax documents (W-2s, 1099s, receipts for deductions, etc.) 2. File your return as soon as possible - you can use the same tax software you'd normally use 3. Don't worry about requesting an extension now since you're already past the deadline One thing to keep in mind: if you had any estimated tax payments or withholding that resulted in overpayment, you want to file sooner rather than later. While you have 3 years to claim a refund, getting your money back faster is always better. The IRS processes late returns the same way as on-time returns when you're due a refund, so you should receive your refund within the normal timeframe (usually 6-8 weeks for paper returns, faster for e-filed returns). You've got this! Just take it one step at a time and you'll be back on track.