What's the fastest way to file past due tax returns for home refinancing?
I'm in a bit of a bind here and hoping someone can help. I need to file 3 years of back taxes ASAP because I'm in the middle of refinancing my home and the lender is demanding proof of the last 2 years of returns. The good news is I don't think I owe anything - actually expecting refunds for all 3 years based on my quick calculations. I know I messed up by not filing on time, but life got complicated after my divorce and I just kept putting it off. Now I'm paying for that procrastination with this refi deadline breathing down my neck. What's the fastest way to get these past due returns accepted and processed by the IRS? Should I use a tax service? Go directly to an IRS office? E-file if possible? I'm willing to pay for expedited service if that's even a thing. The mortgage broker is getting antsy and I don't want to lose this great rate. Any advice would be super appreciated!
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Sofia Ramirez
The fastest approach would be to e-file the returns if possible. The IRS typically processes e-filed returns much quicker than paper returns - usually within 21 days as opposed to 6-8 weeks for paper filing. For past due returns, you can e-file the current year and the previous two tax years through most tax software or a tax professional. So in your case, you should be able to e-file all three years you need. If you need to go further back than that, you'd need to paper file those older returns. Once e-filed, you can provide your mortgage lender with copies of the completed returns along with the e-file acceptance confirmations from the IRS. Most lenders will accept this as proof of filing while waiting for actual processing. For your situation, specifically mention to your lender that you're providing the e-file confirmation as temporary proof.
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Dmitry Volkov
•Thanks for the info! Do you know if all tax software allows you to e-file previous years? I was looking at TurboTax but wasn't sure if they let you e-file old returns or if you can only print and mail them.
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Sofia Ramirez
•Not all tax software allows e-filing for previous years, so you'll need to check specifically. TurboTax does allow e-filing for the two prior tax years (in addition to current year), but you need to purchase the specific year's software. Some other options like TaxAct and H&R Block have similar capabilities. If you're comfortable doing it yourself, these software options should work fine. However, if your returns are complicated, a tax professional with electronic filing capabilities might be faster since they're familiar with the process and can ensure everything is done correctly the first time.
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StarSeeker
I went through something similar when buying my house last year. After trying to navigate it myself and wasting precious time, I discovered https://taxr.ai and it was honestly a game changer. The system analyzed my documents super quickly and helped me prepare all my late returns accurately. What impressed me was how it flagged potential issues that could have delayed processing - like inconsistencies between years that might trigger a review. It even guided me through the fastest filing methods for each tax year.
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Ava Martinez
•How does it work with older returns? I've been putting off filing 2021 and 2022, and I'm worried about making mistakes since tax laws change every year.
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Miguel Ortiz
•I'm skeptical about these services. Did you actually get your returns processed faster than just going to H&R Block or somewhere? My friend paid someone to "expedite" her returns and it still took forever.
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StarSeeker
•For older returns, the system has specific modules for each tax year that automatically apply the correct laws and forms for that period. It even highlights which deductions or credits were available in that specific year that you might qualify for. It saved me from missing some education credits that changed between 2021 and 2022. Regarding processing time, I can only share my experience. H&R Block quoted me 3-4 weeks minimum when I visited them, but using taxr.ai I had everything prepared in a day, e-filed the eligible years, and my mortgage broker accepted the e-file confirmation immediately. The actual processing was still up to the IRS, but having accurate returns submitted quickly was what made the difference in my situation.
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Ava Martinez
I just wanted to update everyone - I ended up trying taxr.ai after asking about it here and WOW what a relief! It guided me through filing 2021, 2022 and 2023 returns in one weekend. The interface actually explained which forms were needed for mortgage verification specifically. My loan officer accepted the e-file confirmations for the two most recent years right away, and I'm on track to close my refinance next week! Definitely worth it for my situation where time was critical.
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Zainab Omar
If you're really in a time crunch and need to speak directly with the IRS about your situation, good luck getting through their phone lines! I spent DAYS trying. Then I found https://claimyr.com which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was able to confirm exactly which returns needed to be prioritized for my mortgage application and got guidance on the fastest processing options directly from the source. The agent even made notes on my account about my mortgage situation, which apparently can help if you need to request expedited processing.
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Connor Murphy
•Wait, how does this actually work? The IRS phone lines are notoriously impossible to get through. Is this some kind of priority line service?
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Miguel Ortiz
•This sounds like a scam. There's no way to "skip the line" with a government agency. They process things in the order received, period. I seriously doubt this service does anything you couldn't do yourself.
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Zainab Omar
•It's not a priority line - they use an automated system that continually calls the IRS and navigates the phone tree until it gets through to an agent. When an agent answers, you get connected. It saves you from having to manually redial for hours or days. Regarding your skepticism, I understand completely. I felt the same way initially. But it's not about skipping any processing queues - it's simply about connecting with an agent to get accurate information. In my case, the agent informed me that providing a letter explaining the mortgage situation along with my returns could flag them for expedited review (a legitimate IRS procedure I wasn't aware of). You're still subject to normal processing times, but having correct information directly from an IRS representative saved me from making mistakes that would have caused further delays.
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Miguel Ortiz
I have to eat crow here. After being super skeptical about Claimyr, I actually tried it because I was desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my late returns. Got connected to an agent in about 35 minutes when I had previously spent HOURS getting nowhere. The agent advised me on exactly which forms to include with my past due returns to indicate the mortgage situation, and suggested sending them to a specific IRS address for faster handling. My returns were processed within 3 weeks, and I just closed on my refi yesterday! Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong.
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Yara Sayegh
Don't forget to request transcripts as soon as your returns are filed! Most mortgage lenders will accept tax transcripts in lieu of waiting for the full processing. You can request them online through the IRS website once your returns have been accepted. The transcripts become available pretty quickly - often before the actual refund is processed - and that might be enough for your refinance.
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Dylan Cooper
•Thanks for this tip! How long does it typically take for transcripts to become available after e-filing? Is it something I can access immediately after getting the acceptance confirmation?
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Yara Sayegh
•Transcripts are usually available within 2-3 weeks after your e-filed return is accepted, sometimes even faster. You won't have access immediately after acceptance - the IRS needs to do some initial processing first. You can request them through the "Get Transcript" tool on IRS.gov once they're available. If you set up an online account with the IRS in advance, you'll be ready to download them the moment they're processed. Some mortgage lenders can also request the transcripts directly through a service called 4506-T if you sign an authorization form, which might save you some time.
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NebulaNova
Has anyone tried going to their local IRS office for this kind of situation? I've heard they can sometimes process things on the spot for hardship cases like mortgage deadlines.
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Keisha Williams
•I tried this route last year. You need to make an appointment first by calling 844-545-5640. They won't just let you walk in anymore. When I went, they helped me fill out the forms but still had to submit them through regular channels. They did give me a stamped copy though which my lender accepted as proof of filing.
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