Advice You Need To Know If You Have Not Filed Your Expat Tax Return

If You Have Not Filed Your Taxes In Years – What to Do if You Have Not Filed Your Tax Return

For whatever your reason, if you haven’t filed a tax in a few years, we can help you get back on track. You may have been told by a friend or co-worker that you didn’t need to file a tax return. You may not have known you were required to file and only recently learned about your tax filing requirements. You may not have filed because you thought that you owe tax that you could not afford to pay. Whatever your reason for not filing, filing your tax returns as soon as possible is the best approach. If you need help, Tax Samaritan can help get you back on track.

You may be surprised to learn that you may be entitled to tax credits that result in a refund. However, if you are due a refund, you only have three years from the due date of the return to claim the refund. Wait too long and the government gets to keep your money…

If you are filing late and are due a refund, there are no penalties for late tax filing. If instead you owe taxes, there are many options available to pay the tax that is owed so that there is minimal strain on your finances. If you cannot pay all of the tax due on your return, we may be able to help establish an installment agreement with the IRS.

If you do not file your return on or before the due date, you may be charged penalties and interest. If your return was not filed by the due date, you may be subject to the failure to file and failure to pay penalties. However, if you filed on time but did not pay in full, you will be subject only to the failure to pay penalty. Interest is charged on taxes not paid by the due date, even if you have an extension of time to file. Interest is also charged on penalties.

Regardless of your reason for not filing, you should file your federal tax return as soon as possible. If you are an overseas taxpayer, there is an even greater urgency as your rights to claim certain benefits, such as the foreign earned income exclusion, are contingent on your filing an original tax return before any notification or inquiry by the IRS pertaining to unfiled returns.

Our goal at Tax Samaritan is to provide the best counsel, advocacy and personal service for our clients. We are not only tax preparation and representation experts, but strive to become valued business partners. Tax Samaritan is committed to understanding our client’s unique needs; every tax situation is different and requires a personal approach in providing realistic and effective solutions.
For answers to your tax questions, information about payment arrangements, or any other tax-related inquiry, please click the button below to request a Tax Preparation Quote today to get started with the preparation of your US tax return.

Tax Samaritan is a team of Enrolled Agents with over 25 years of experience focusing on US tax preparation and representation. We maintain this tax blog where all articles are written by Enrolled Agents. Our main objective is to educate US taxpayers on their tax responsibilities and the selection of a tax professional. Our articles are also designed to help taxpayers looking to self prepare, providing specific tips and pitfalls to avoid.

When looking for a tax professional, choose carefully. We recommend that you hire a credentialed tax professional such as Tax Samaritan that is an Enrolled Agent (America’s Tax Experts). If you are a US taxpayer overseas, we further recommend that you seek a professional who is experienced in expat tax preparation, like Tax Samaritan (most tax professionals have limited to no experience with the unique tax issues of expat taxpayers).

Randall Brody is an enrolled agent, licensed by the US Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the IRS for audits, collections and appeals. To attain the enrolled agent designation, candidates must demonstrate expertise in taxation, fulfill continuing education credits and adhere to a stringent code of ethics.

Every effort has been taken to provide the most accurate and honest analysis of the tax information provided in this blog. Please use your discretion before making any decisions based on the information provided. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for seeking professional tax advice based on your individual needs.