Is it possible to file my 2020 and 2021 taxes online for free at this point?

Yes, you can still file your 2020 and 2021 tax returns online! The IRS Free File program partners with tax software companies to provide free filing, but their offerings for prior years can be limited. Your best bet might be using IRS Free File Fillable Forms, though they're only available for the current tax year. For prior years like 2020 and 2021, you have a few options: 1) Use commercial tax software (some offer free options for simple returns but might charge for prior years), 2) Download the appropriate year's forms from IRS.gov and mail them in, or 3) Visit a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site - they help people with incomes under $58,000 prepare their taxes for free. As for your refund question - good news! You can still claim refunds for up to 3 years after the original filing deadline. So for 2020 taxes (which were due May 17, 2021), you have until May 17, 2024 to file and get your refund. For 2021 taxes (due April 18, 2022), you have until April 18, 2025.

I was in a similar situation last year with unfiled returns from 2019 and 2020. After struggling with confusing forms and outdated software, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was seriously a game-changer for past-year filing. The system can actually read your tax documents like W-2s from those years and automatically fill everything out. What's cool is it specifically knows how to handle prior year returns and all their weird requirements. I just uploaded my old W-2s through their secure system, and it figured out everything - even found deductions I didn't know I qualified for in those years. They have specific tools for handling previous tax years that regular software often messes up.

I was skeptical at first about taxr.ai but decided to give it a try for my unfiled 2021 return. Just wanted to update that it worked amazingly well! The document scanning feature saved me hours of manual data entry - I just took pictures of my old W-2 and 1099 forms and it pulled all the numbers perfectly. The biggest surprise was when it found I qualified for a recovery rebate credit from 2021 that I had no idea about. Apparently I never received the third stimulus payment and it automatically added that to my refund. The system guided me through some pandemic-related questions specific to 2021 that I wouldn't have known to answer. Just filed last week and already got confirmation my return was accepted. The whole process took about 30 minutes instead of the hours I spent trying to figure out the downloadable forms. Definitely recommend for anyone dealing with past year returns!

If you're trying to check on the status of those refunds after filing, good luck getting through to the IRS! I filed my 2020 return late and spent WEEKS trying to get through to anyone who could tell me about my refund status. Always busy signals or disconnections after waiting on hold forever. Finally found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which was a total lifesaver. They have this system that basically waits on hold with the IRS for you, then calls you when an actual human agent is on the line. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c After using their service, I got through to an IRS agent in about 45 minutes (instead of the dozens of failed calls I made on my own). The agent confirmed my 2020 return was processed and my refund was being sent. Totally worth it to avoid the endless hold music and hangups.

Well I have to admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment I decided to try it anyway since I was desperate to find out about my refund status. Used it yesterday morning and got connected to an IRS agent in about 35 minutes without having to sit there listening to that annoying hold music. The agent was actually super helpful and found that my 2019 return had been flagged for review because of a mismatch with my W-2 (turns out my employer reported a different amount than what was on my form). She helped me get it sorted out right there on the phone and said my refund should be processed within 2-3 weeks. Four months of failed calls resolved in one conversation. Wish I'd known about this sooner instead of stressing about it for so long. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong!

One thing nobody mentioned is that if you're owed a refund, there's no penalty for filing late! The IRS doesn't penalize you for filing late if they owe YOU money. The 3-year deadline is just to claim your refund, not a penalty deadline. BUT if you owed taxes (instead of being due a refund), then you'll face failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties plus interest. Just something to keep in mind depending on your situation.

Don't forget to check if you need to file state tax returns too! Free federal filing options don't always include state filing for free, especially for prior years. Some states have their own free filing programs separate from the federal ones. Also, even with simple returns, you might qualify for credits you don't know about from those years. The Earned Income Credit and education credits could apply even with basic W-2 income. Don't leave money on the table!