If you’ve fallen behind on filing your taxes—whether it’s one year or several—you’re not alone. Many people across Gwinnett County miss a tax filing due to job loss, medical issues, family changes, or fear of what they might owe.
But here’s the truth: the longer you wait, the worse it gets.
At Back Tax Rescue, we help individuals and business owners catch up on unfiled tax returns and avoid devastating consequences like IRS penalties, interest, tax liens, and even criminal charges.
This guide will walk you through the real risks of unfiled returns, how to get current, and how to minimize your exposure moving forward.
⚠️ Why Unfiled Returns Are More Dangerous Than You Think
Not filing a tax return is more serious than simply owing money. It triggers a cascade of IRS actions that can jeopardize your finances, credit, and even freedom.
Here’s what happens when you don’t file:
1. Failure-to-File Penalties
This is 5% of the tax owed per month, up to 25%—more than double the failure-to-pay penalty. Even if you owe $0, the penalty is based on what the IRS believes you owe.
2. Loss of Refunds
If you’re due a refund but don’t file within 3 years, the IRS keeps your money—and you lose that refund permanently.
3. IRS Can File for You (Substitute for Return)
If you don’t file, the IRS may file a Substitute for Return (SFR) on your behalf using income data from W-2s, 1099s, and bank records. They won’t include deductions or credits—so the tax bill will be much higher than if you filed yourself.
4. Liens and Levies
Once an SFR is filed and assessed, the IRS can issue tax liens on your property or levy your wages and bank accounts.
5. Criminal Charges
If the IRS believes you’re willfully avoiding tax filing, you could face criminal prosecution. While rare, this becomes a risk the longer you avoid it.
🧾 How Many Years of Back Taxes Do I Need to File?
The IRS typically requires at least the last 6 years of unfiled returns to be submitted to bring you into compliance. However, they may request more or fewer depending on your situation.
At Back Tax Rescue, we communicate directly with the IRS to determine exactly what they require based on your account history.
📋 Step-by-Step: How to Catch Up on Unfiled Tax Returns
✅ Step 1: Gather Your Tax Documents
If you’ve lost records, don’t worry. We can help retrieve wage and income transcripts from the IRS, including:
- W-2s
- 1099s
- Mortgage and tuition statements
- Bank interest and dividends
✅ Step 2: File Your Old Returns in Order
Always file from oldest to newest. This shows the IRS you’re serious about compliance and prevents future delays or misapplied payments.
✅ Step 3: Review for Refunds or Errors
In some cases, you may find you were due a refund—or that the IRS overestimated your debt through an SFR. We’ll check each return carefully for accuracy and missed deductions.
✅ Step 4: Address Any Balances Owed
Once returns are filed, we’ll help you set up:
- Installment Agreements
- Offer in Compromise
- Penalty Abatement
- Hardship (CNC) status
✅ Step 5: Stay Current Going Forward
Ongoing compliance is key. Once caught up, you’ll need to file on time going forward—even if you can’t pay right away.
🤔 What If You Can’t Pay What You Owe?
Even if catching up means owing a large balance, the solution is never to ignore it. The IRS offers flexible solutions:
- Payment plans based on your income
- Settlements through Offer in Compromise
- Penalty relief to lower the total owed
- Hardship protection to pause collection activity
Our team will find the best option based on your circumstances.
🧠 Why People Avoid Filing—And Why You Shouldn’t
- “I don’t have the records.”
→ We can pull IRS transcripts and reconstruct most returns. - “I think I’ll owe a lot.”
→ Possibly. But filing is the first step to stopping penalties and negotiating. - “I haven’t worked in years.”
→ You still may be required to file—and may be due refunds. - “I’m scared of the IRS.”
→ We take over communications and represent you throughout the process.
👨💼 How Back Tax Rescue Helps with Unfiled Returns
We specialize in non-filers and late filers. Here’s what we do:
- Retrieve wage & income data from the IRS
- Prepare accurate, backdated tax returns
- Review for credits, deductions, and refund opportunities
- Communicate directly with the IRS on your behalf
- Prevent or reverse IRS enforcement actions
- Help you stay current moving forward
We’ve helped clients across Berkeley Lake, Auburn, Loganville, and the rest of Gwinnett County restore compliance and regain peace of mind.
📞 Ready to Catch Up and Move Forward?
If you have unfiled tax returns, the time to act is right now—before the IRS takes action. Let’s fix this together.
📞 Call Back Tax Rescue: 470-699-1187
📧 Email: info@backtaxrescue.com
🗓️ Book a Free Consultation Now »
Getting caught up may be easier than you think—and you don’t have to do it alone.
