Not as bad as you think — but the longer you wait, the messier it can get. The IRS wants you to file, even if you can’t pay. Penalties for not filing are usually way worse than penalties for not paying. So if you’re behind, the first step is always: file the missing returns.

The sooner you do, the sooner the penalties and interest stop piling up.

They can — but they usually don’t kick your door in overnight. If you have unfiled returns, they’ll send letters first. Worst case, they might file a “Substitute for Return” — an IRS-made version of your return — which almost never works in your favor.

If you ignore that, they can garnish wages or levy bank accounts. But again: they want you to file and work it out.

File anyway — and then deal with paying. The IRS offers payment plans (Installment Agreements) and sometimes settles debts for less than you owe (Offer in Compromise). You may also qualify to get penalties reduced or stopped if you have a good reason (called Penalty Abatement).

Bottom line: get the return in first — then solve the bill.

It depends. The IRS usually wants the last 6 years to get you back in “good standing,” but every case is unique. If they owe you a refund, you only have 3 years to claim it — after that, the refund is gone forever.

So, if you’re due money, don’t wait.

Happens all the time. The IRS has records of W-2s, 1099s, and other income docs — I can pull your Wage & Income Transcripts and rebuild what’s missing.

For deductions and expenses, we piece together what we can with bank statements, receipts, and any credible proof. Better to file a best-effort return than do nothing.

Probably, yes. But penalties can sometimes be reduced if you have “reasonable cause” (medical issues, natural disasters, business problems).

Interest is tougher — it rarely goes away — but by filing and setting up payments, you stop new penalties from stacking up.

You can — but people who DIY back tax messes often miss deductions, file wrong, or freeze up when the IRS letters keep coming.

The real value is getting it right the first time: clean returns, the lowest legal tax bill, and a clear plan to pay it off without nasty surprises later.

Depends how many years you’re behind and how organized your records are. Some clients get caught up in days — some take a few weeks if we’re digging for old info.

The sooner you start, the faster the stress goes away. No more hiding from the mailbox.