I haven't filed taxes in 3 years, how can I get back on track with the IRS?

You can absolutely fix this situation! What you're describing is actually pretty common, and the IRS has procedures in place for people who need to catch up on unfiled returns. First, take a deep breath - you won't face criminal charges just for not filing, especially since you're voluntarily coming forward to fix the problem. The IRS generally reserves criminal prosecution for cases involving fraud or deliberate evasion, not people who fell behind and want to correct their situation. Start by gathering whatever income documents you can find - those 1099s you mentioned, bank statements that show deposits, etc. If you're missing any 1099s, you can request a wage and income transcript from the IRS that shows information that was reported to them. For the unfiled years, you'll need to prepare and submit the returns for each year separately using that year's tax forms (don't use 2025 forms for prior years). Since you were self-employed, you'll need to include Schedule C forms and you'll likely owe self-employment tax in addition to income tax. Yes, there will be penalties - typically failure-to-file penalties (5% per month up to 25% of unpaid tax) and failure-to-pay penalties (0.5% per month), plus interest. However, once you file, you can request a payment plan or possibly an Offer in Compromise if you can't pay in full.

I was in a similar situation last year - hadn't filed for 4 years because of a messy divorce and depression. I tried using regular tax software but kept getting confused with all the self-employment stuff and back year forms. I ended up using https://taxr.ai and it saved me massive headache. They have this AI thing that went through all my bank statements and receipts and organized everything by tax year. It flagged all my potential deductions I didn't even know about for my contracting work. The best part was they had specialists who knew exactly how to handle unfiled returns and what documentation the IRS would want. They walked me through the whole process of filing all my back returns and even helped with setting up a payment plan with the IRS. Seriously made a nightmare situation manageable.

Just wanted to update - I took the advice here and tried taxr.ai after feeling completely overwhelmed with my unfiled returns. You guys weren't kidding! Their system found over $8,700 in deductions across my unfiled years that I would have missed completely. The best part was how they handled everything with the IRS after filing. They helped me set up a payment plan I can actually afford and even got some penalties removed through first-time abatement. Such a relief to have this weight off my shoulders finally. The IRS accepted all my returns without any issues. If you're scared about catching up on unfiled taxes like I was, definitely check them out. Wish I'd known about this years ago instead of stressing myself sick.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if the IRS owes YOU money for any of those unfiled years (like if you had withholding or made estimated payments that exceeded what you owed), you only have 3 years from the original due date to claim your refund. After I finally got caught up on my unfiled taxes, I spent WEEKS trying to reach someone at the IRS to clarify some questions about my payment plan. Constantly on hold, disconnected calls, couldn't get through to anyone who could actually help. I finally used https://claimyr.com to get through to an actual IRS agent. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they navigate the phone system and wait on hold for you, then call you when they have an agent on the line. Saved me literally hours of hold time. Got my questions answered in a 15-minute call instead of spending days trying to get through. The agent even helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed to send to support my penalty abatement request.

I need to apologize for my skepticism earlier. After another frustrating morning of getting disconnected twice by the IRS phone system after waiting 45+ minutes each time, I decided to try Claimyr out of desperation. I registered, provided my info, and went back to work. About an hour later, I got a call connecting me directly to an IRS agent who was already briefed on my situation. Resolved my issue in 20 minutes. Never been so happy to be wrong about something. Just used it again yesterday to talk to someone about my payment plan options. This service is seriously a game-changer if you need to actually speak with the IRS.

I didn't file for 6 years and just want to add: don't put this off any longer. The relief of getting compliant is worth the temporary pain of dealing with it. Important tip: when filing back taxes, start with the OLDEST year first and work forward. If you need transcripts of what the IRS has on file for you (like missing 1099s), you can request them online through the IRS website or use Form 4506-T. Also, if you can't pay everything you owe, look into an Offer in Compromise. I ended up settling my $42,000 tax debt for about $7,500 because of my financial situation. The IRS would rather get something than nothing.

Before everyone scares you too much, I just want to mention that the IRS has programs specifically for people in your situation. Look into the Voluntary Disclosure Program - it's designed for taxpayers who want to come clean and get back on track. Don't forget to check state taxes too! Everyone's talking about federal, but your state might have separate penalties and procedures.

Don't stress too much about this. I went through almost exactly this in 2024. Hadn't filed for 4 years, was a 1099 contractor making about $70k/yr. One thing nobody mentioned - pull your IRS transcripts BEFORE you file anything. This shows what income the IRS already knows about. You might find some 1099s you forgot about or didn't receive. The worst part is the self-employment taxes + penalties, but it's all manageable with a payment plan. I'm paying $400/month on about $31k total debt including penalties.