Will I get my 2020 and 2021 tax refunds if I'm still past due on previous years' returns?

So I'm in a bit of a tax mess right now. I finally got around to filing my 2020 and 2021 tax returns last week (yeah I know, super late). Based on what I calculated, I'm supposed to get refunds for both years plus those stimulus payments everyone was getting during the pandemic. Here's my worry though - I still haven't filed my 2018 and 2019 returns. I'm working on gathering all the documents but it's taking forever because I moved twice and my record-keeping was, well, non-existent. Will the IRS still process my 2020/2021 refunds even though I'm past due on these older returns? Or do they basically hold everything hostage until I get completely caught up with all prior years? I really need that refund money soon and I'm worried I'll have to wait months more if I need to finish those older returns first.

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20 comments

Sadie Benitez

•8M

The good news is that the IRS generally processes each tax year separately, so your 2020 and 2021 refunds should still be processed even if you haven't filed your 2018 and 2019 returns yet. The IRS doesn't typically hold current refunds hostage because of unfiled prior year returns. However, there are a few things to consider. If you owe taxes for those unfiled years (2018-2019), the IRS may eventually apply your current refunds to those past due balances once you file them. But they need to know how much you owe first, which they can't determine until you file those returns. For the stimulus payments (Recovery Rebate Credits), those should be included in your refunds as claimed on your 2020 and 2021 returns, regardless of your filing status for prior years.

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Sadie Benitez

•8M

Yes, this generally applies even if you've received delinquent return notices. The IRS processes each tax year independently, so they should still process your 2020 refund while the 2017 issue is ongoing. However, if the IRS has already assessed a tax liability for your unfiled 2017 return (sometimes they create a substitute return based on income information they have), they might apply your 2020 refund to that assessed balance. The best approach is to file that missing 2017 return as soon as possible to ensure the correct tax amount is calculated.

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Laila Prince

•8M

It handles multiple years by analyzing each year's documents separately and then giving you a complete picture. You upload whatever tax documents you have (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) and it extracts all the data even from messy PDFs, then tells you where you stand for each year. For accuracy, I was skeptical too but it identified several deductions I would have missed, especially related to some 1099 income I had in 2020. The stimulus payment calculations were spot-on when I compared them to what I eventually received from the IRS.

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Dominique Adams

•8M

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I decided to try it after my earlier question. Super helpful for my situation! I had returns from 2019-2021 to file and wasn't sure which ones would get me refunds vs. which might cost me. The tool analyzed all my W-2s and 1099s and showed me that I was actually due significant refunds for all three years including stimulus money I never received. Just got my first refund deposited last week for 2020, and 2019 is "approved" according to Where's My Refund. Definitely helped me prioritize which returns to file first!

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Marilyn Dixon

•8M

If you're struggling to get answers about your prior year returns and refund status, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with unfiled returns from 2017-2019 and filed 2020-2021 expecting refunds. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS to confirm whether my refunds would be processed or held. Claimyr got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of the 2+ hour wait times I was getting before. You can see exactly how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent I spoke with confirmed my refunds were being processed independently and gave me an exact timeline for when I could expect them. Totally worth it when you're dealing with multiple years of returns and need clear answers.

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Marilyn Dixon

•8M

It actually uses an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and holds your place in line. When an agent is about to answer, it calls you and connects you directly to them. It's not just auto-dialing - it's smarter than that. The reason it works is because their system can stay on hold indefinitely while you go about your day, then it only bothers you when there's actually an agent ready to talk. I was skeptical at first too, but after trying to get through myself for weeks with no luck, I was connected to an agent in about 20 minutes.

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TommyKapitz

•8M

I have to eat my words about Claimyr. I tried it yesterday after posting that skeptical comment, and I actually got through to a real person at the IRS in about 25 minutes. After months of trying! The agent confirmed that my 2020 and 2021 refunds weren't being held up by my unfiled 2018 return. She also told me my 2019 return was stuck because of an address mismatch issue I never would have known about otherwise. Already fixed that problem and now my refund should be coming within 2-3 weeks. Not having to sit on hold for hours made this totally worth it.

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Angel Campbell

•8M

You have 3 years from the original due date to file and claim a refund. So for 2018 taxes (normally due April 2019), the deadline was April 2022. For 2017, it would have been April 2021. You can still file those returns, and you should to get compliant with the IRS, but if you were owed a refund for those years, that money is unfortunately forfeited. However, if you owe taxes for those years, you'd still need to pay (plus penalties and interest). It's a one-way street that favors the IRS, unfortunately.

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Amara Okafor

•4M

@Abby Marshall, I was in almost the exact same situation last year! I filed my 2020 and 2021 returns super late while still having unfiled 2018 and 2019 returns. The good news is that you should still get your refunds - the IRS processes each year separately like others mentioned. One thing to watch out for though - if you end up owing money on those older unfiled returns, the IRS can and will apply your current refunds to those balances once you eventually file them. So you might get your refunds now, but if you owe for 2018/2019, they could come back later and ask for some of that money back. My advice would be to try to at least get a rough estimate of what you might owe or be owed for those missing years before spending your refund money. That way you won't get caught off guard later. The stimulus payments should definitely come through with your 2020 return though - those were processed pretty smoothly even for late filers in my experience.

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