IRS holding my 2024 refund until I file 2019-2022 tax returns by March 6, 2025 - need help with missing documents and multiple years

This is a pretty standard IRS procedure when you have unfiled returns. Here's what you need to do: • First, don't panic. The IRS is giving you until March 6, 2025, which is about 4 months from now to get this fixed. • You'll need to gather whatever income documentation you can for those years - old W-2s, 1099s, etc. If you don't have them, you can request wage and income transcripts from the IRS for those years, which will show most income reported to them. • For 2019-2022, you can still e-file through a tax professional or you can mail/fax paper returns as mentioned in the notice. • If your income was below the filing threshold for any of those years, you can provide a written explanation instead of filing for that year. • Once all returns are filed, they'll determine if you owe taxes. If you do, they'll likely apply your current refund to the past due amounts. • If you're struggling to get this together, consider using taxr.ai - it can read your transcripts and help you understand exactly what's happening with your tax situation instead of trying to piece it together yourself.

I was in a similar situation last year. Hadn't filed for 3 years and was completely lost trying to figure out what to do. I tried researching online for weeks, but honestly it was just a confusing mess of conflicting advice and IRS jargon. Then I found this tool called taxr.ai that actually helped me understand my transcript situation. It saved me so much time compared to piecing everything together myself. The AI explained what all the codes meant and helped me figure out exactly what I needed to do to get back on track. I recommend checking it out at https://taxr.ai - seriously made dealing with the IRS so much easier.

After dealing with a similar issue, I found the most helpful thing was getting an actual human at the IRS to explain things. But we all know how impossible that is with normal methods 🙄 I tried for WEEKS using the regular number. Finally used Claimyr.com and got through to an agent within a day. They helped me understand exactly what I needed to file and even put notes in my account about my situation. Talking to an actual agent completely changed my approach and saved me from making some big mistakes. Best money I ever spent to get my tax mess sorted out.

The IRS is such a freakin joke. They wait YEARS to tell you theres a problem, then expect you to magically produce all your documents from half a decade ago. And the threat about "determining your tax based on third party information" is them basically saying "we'll make up whatever number we want and you'll owe it." The whole system is broken.

I went through this exact thing in 2022. Had 3 years unfiled and got a similar notice. Here's what I learned: 1. Getting your wage and income transcripts is critical - shows what the IRS already knows about your income for those years 2. File the most recent year first, then work backwards 3. They charged me penalties but I was able to get First Time Penalty Abatement for one of the years which saved me about $800 4. My 2022 refund did get applied to my past balances but at least that reduced what I owed 5. I set up a payment plan for the remaining balance - think it was like $63/month Good luck! It feels overwhelming but once you start tackling it, it's manageable.

If your income was below certain thresholds for any of those years, you might not have been required to file at all! For example, in 2022 single filers under 65 didn't need to file if income was under $12,950. Each year has different thresholds. Check if any of those years you were below the limit and you might be able to just send an explanation letter instead of filing.

been there done that got the t-shirt. my advice? don't ignore this notice. I did that with a similar situation and ended up with wage garnishments later. it's WAY easier to deal with it now on your terms than later on theirs. trust me.

Do NOT let the IRS calculate your taxes for you based on third-party info!! They won't include any deductions or credits you're entitled to, only the income parts. You'll end up owing WAY more than if you file properly yourself.

When gathering your information, don't forget about these potential sources: - Old email accounts (search for "W-2" or "1099") - Previous employers' HR departments - Bank statements showing deposits - Previous tax software accounts - Social Security Administration (they have wage records) - Credit card statements from tax time (might show tax prep payments) Also, if you were an employee rather than self-employed, the process is much easier since your employer withheld taxes already.

You mentioned going through rough personal stuff during those years. The IRS has something called "reasonable cause" for penalty abatement. If you had serious health issues, major family problems, natural disasters, etc., you might qualify to have some penalties removed. Worth looking into once you get everything filed.

one thing nobody mentioned - You might actually be owed refunds for some of those past years if you had withholding but didn't file! But you can only claim refunds for 3 years after the due date. So 2019 refund is probably gone forever, but you might still be able to get 2020-2022 refunds if you had withholding that exceeded what you owed.

i ignored a notice like this once and they eventually sent me a CP3219N notice which is a "notice of deficiency" where they basically make up what you owe. once that happens you only have 90 days to fight it in tax court or you're stuck with what they say you owe. don't be like me 🤦‍♂️ just file the returns now.

Honestly? I burned whole evenings trying to navigate the IRS website, calling their numbers and waiting for hours, and searching through old emails for tax documents. Then a friend recommended taxr.ai and it immediately made sense of my transcript situation and told me exactly what was happening and what I needed to do. It saved me SO much time and frustration. I don't usually recommend services but this one is worth checking out at https://taxr.ai

File those returns ASAP! I was in the EXACT same boat and finally got everything straightened out. Used taxr.ai to make sense of my transcript mess and then used a tax preparer to get the past returns done. Once everything was filed, I called the IRS (used Claimyr.com to actually get through) and set up a payment plan for what I owed. It feels SO GOOD to have it all behind me now.

I feel for you - this is such a stressful situation but you're not alone in dealing with this. The good news is you have until March 6th which gives you some time to get organized. A few practical steps that might help: 1. Start with requesting your wage and income transcripts online at irs.gov/transcripts for each of those years (2019-2022). This will show you exactly what income the IRS has on file for you. 2. Check your filing requirements for each year - if your income was below the threshold for any particular year, you might be able to just send an explanation letter instead of filing a full return. 3. Given that you mentioned going through rough personal times, definitely look into "reasonable cause" penalty abatement once you get everything filed. Depression, health issues, family crises, etc. can qualify you to have penalties reduced or eliminated. 4. Consider getting help from a tax professional, especially since you're dealing with multiple years. The cost upfront might save you money in the long run by avoiding mistakes and maximizing deductions. 5. Don't let them calculate your taxes based on third-party info - they won't include any deductions or credits you're entitled to, so you'll end up owing way more than necessary. You mentioned needing the refund to catch up on bills, so I'd definitely prioritize getting this handled quickly. Even if your current refund gets applied to past balances, getting everything resolved will prevent bigger problems down the road.

I went through almost this exact situation a few years ago and understand how overwhelming it feels. The most important thing is to act quickly since you have a firm deadline. Here's what worked for me: **Immediate steps:** - Get your wage and income transcripts online at irs.gov/transcripts for 2019-2022. This shows exactly what income the IRS has on file and is crucial for preparing your returns. - Check if your income was below the filing threshold for any of those years - if so, you can send an explanation letter instead of filing for that year. **Document gathering:** - Contact former employers' HR departments for duplicate W-2s - Check old email accounts for tax documents - Look through bank statements for income deposits - If you used tax software before, log into those accounts for historical data **Professional help consideration:** Given you're dealing with multiple years and potential penalties, a tax professional might be worth the cost. They can help you maximize deductions and navigate penalty abatement options. **Important:** Don't let the IRS calculate your taxes based on third-party info - they won't include deductions or credits, so you'll owe much more than necessary. Since you mentioned personal struggles during those years, definitely look into "reasonable cause" penalty abatement once everything is filed. Mental health issues, family crises, etc. can qualify you for penalty relief. You've got time to handle this properly - just start with getting those transcripts and take it one step at a time.

I've been through a similar situation and I know how overwhelming it feels, but you definitely have time to get this sorted out before March 6th. The key is to start with the basics and work systematically. First priority: Get your wage and income transcripts from irs.gov/transcripts for each year 2019-2022. This will show you exactly what income the IRS already knows about, which is crucial for preparing accurate returns. While you're waiting for those transcripts, start gathering whatever documents you can find: - Check old email accounts for W-2s, 1099s - Contact former employers' HR departments - Look through bank statements for income patterns - Check if you used any tax software in previous years Given that you mentioned going through rough personal times, you should definitely look into "reasonable cause" penalty abatement once everything is filed. Depression, health issues, family crises, etc. can qualify you for significant penalty relief - potentially saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars. For the actual filing, since you're dealing with multiple years, I'd strongly recommend getting professional help. A tax preparer can ensure you get all the deductions and credits you're entitled to, and they can help with the penalty abatement process too. The upfront cost will likely save you money in the long run. Whatever you do, don't let the IRS calculate your taxes based on third-party info - they won't include any deductions or credits, so you'll end up owing way more than necessary. You've got this! Take it one step at a time and start with those transcripts.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress - I know exactly how overwhelming it feels when the IRS drops a bombshell like this on you. The good news is that March 6th gives you a reasonable window to get this handled properly. Here's my take based on going through something similar: **Start immediately with these steps:** 1. Request your wage and income transcripts online at irs.gov/transcripts for 2019-2022. This is absolutely critical - it shows exactly what income the IRS has on file for you. 2. While waiting for transcripts, start digging for any old tax documents you can find - check email accounts, contact former employers, look through bank statements. **Important considerations:** - Check if your income was below filing thresholds for any of those years. If so, you might only need to send an explanation letter for that year rather than a full return. - Since you mentioned personal struggles during that time, definitely research "reasonable cause" penalty abatement. Mental health issues, family crises, etc. can qualify you for penalty relief once everything is filed. - DO NOT let them calculate your taxes based on third-party info - they won't include any deductions or credits you're entitled to, so you'll owe way more than necessary. **Professional help decision:** Given you're dealing with 4 years and potential penalties, I'd honestly recommend getting a tax professional involved. Yes it costs money upfront, but they can ensure you get all available deductions/credits and help with penalty abatement strategies. The peace of mind alone is worth it. You've got time to handle this right - just take it one step at a time and start with those transcripts!

I've been through this exact scenario and I totally understand the panic you're feeling right now. The good news is that March 6th gives you enough time to handle this properly if you start soon. Here's what I learned from my experience: **First things first:** Get your wage and income transcripts from irs.gov/transcripts for each year (2019-2022). This is like getting the answer key - it shows exactly what income the IRS already has on file for you, which makes preparing your returns so much easier. **While you're waiting for transcripts:** Start gathering whatever documents you can find. Check old email accounts, contact former employers' HR departments for duplicate W-2s, and look through bank statements. If you used tax software before, log into those accounts - they sometimes save your old returns. **Check your filing requirements:** For some of those years, if your income was below the filing threshold, you might not have needed to file at all. You could send an explanation letter instead of preparing a full return for those years. **Don't panic about the refund:** Yes, they'll likely apply your 2024 refund to any past balances you owe, but that's actually helpful - it reduces what you'll need to pay out of pocket. **Consider professional help:** With 4 years to catch up on and potential penalties involved, a tax professional might save you money in the long run. They know how to maximize deductions and can help with penalty abatement. **Important:** Since you mentioned going through tough personal times, look into "reasonable cause" penalty abatement once everything is filed. Depression, health issues, family crises - these can qualify you for penalty relief. You've got this! Just take it one step at a time and start with those transcripts.

I went through something very similar about two years ago - had 3 unfiled years and got that same scary notice about holding my refund. I know how overwhelming it feels, but you absolutely can get through this! Here's what worked for me: **Start with transcripts immediately:** Get your wage and income transcripts from irs.gov/transcripts for all four years. This is your roadmap - it shows exactly what income the IRS expects to see on your returns. Mine came within about a week of requesting online. **Gather documents systematically:** While waiting for transcripts, start collecting whatever you can find. I had success contacting old employers' HR departments (most keep records for 7+ years), checking old email accounts for tax docs, and even looking through old bank statements to identify income sources I'd forgotten about. **Consider the filing threshold:** Don't assume you need to file for every single year. If your income was below the threshold for any year, you can just send an explanation letter instead. This saved me from having to file one of my missing years. **Professional help is worth it:** I initially tried to DIY everything but got overwhelmed fast. Ended up hiring a tax preparer for about $200 per year, and it was money well spent. They caught deductions I would have missed and handled the penalty abatement paperwork. **Document your hardships:** Since you mentioned going through rough times, start gathering any documentation of health issues, family problems, job loss, etc. I was able to get about $900 in penalties waived through reasonable cause abatement. The March deadline feels scary but it's actually plenty of time if you start now. You've got this! Feel free to ask if you have specific questions about the process.

I can relate to feeling overwhelmed by this situation - it's scary when the IRS sends these notices, but you're definitely not alone in dealing with unfiled returns. The March 6th deadline gives you a solid window to get this handled properly. Here's what I'd recommend based on what others have shared and what seems to work: **Priority #1:** Get those wage and income transcripts from irs.gov/transcripts for 2019-2022. This is crucial because it shows exactly what income the IRS already has on file for you - basically gives you their "answer sheet" for what they expect to see. **Document hunting:** While waiting for transcripts, start gathering whatever you can find. Old emails, contact former employers for duplicate W-2s, check bank statements for income patterns. Don't stress if you can't find everything - the transcripts will fill in most gaps. **Check filing thresholds:** Look up the income thresholds for each year. If any year you were below the limit, you might just need to send an explanation letter instead of a full return. **Don't let them calculate for you:** Whatever you do, don't let the deadline pass and have them determine your taxes. They won't include any deductions or credits you're entitled to, so you'll owe way more than necessary. **Consider your options:** Given that you mentioned rough personal times during those years, definitely look into reasonable cause penalty abatement once everything is filed. Mental health issues, family crises, etc. can qualify for penalty relief. You mentioned needing that refund for bills, so I get the urgency. Even if it gets applied to past balances, getting this resolved prevents bigger problems down the road. Take it one step at a time and you'll get through this!

I've been through this exact situation and I completely understand the stress you're feeling right now. Getting that notice feels like a punch to the gut, especially when you're already dealing with financial pressure. Here's what helped me get through it: **Start with the transcripts:** Like everyone's saying, get your wage and income transcripts from irs.gov/transcripts for each year. This was a game-changer for me - it shows exactly what the IRS knows about your income and makes filing so much easier. **Don't panic about your refund:** Yes, they'll probably apply your 2024 refund to whatever you owe for those past years, but think of it as a forced payment plan. It reduces what you'll owe out of pocket. **Timeline is manageable:** March 6th feels scary but it's actually enough time if you start soon. I had a similar deadline and got everything sorted with about 2 weeks to spare. **Your mental health struggles matter:** Since you mentioned going through rough times, definitely document any health issues you had during 2019-2022. I got significant penalties waived through reasonable cause abatement by showing I had documented depression during my non-filing period. **Consider professional help:** I tried to DIY at first but honestly, hiring a tax preparer was worth every penny. They knew which deductions I was missing and helped with the penalty abatement process. The hardest part is just getting started. Once you take that first step of requesting the transcripts, the rest becomes much more manageable. You've got this!