I haven't filed taxes in years. What happens when I finally file — and how far back do I have to go?

Thursday, November 12, 2026 · Question 1 of 19

You're not the only one, and this is fixable. The IRS generally focuses on the last six years of unfiled returns to bring you back into compliance. The longer you wait, the more penalties and interest grow — which is exactly why waiting costs more than starting. If you're owed a refund on any of those years, you only have three years to claim it. After that, it's gone. And if you never file, the IRS can file a return for you — without your deductions or credits — and bill you for that. The first step is one year at a time: we pull your records, see what's missing, file what's needed, and then deal with any balance that's left.