Life gets busy—work, kids, paperwork, and before you know it, April 15th has come and gone… and you still haven’t filed your taxes. If this is you, take a deep breath. You’re not alone, and more importantly, you still have options.
Here’s exactly what to do if you missed the IRS filing deadline.
- File Your Tax Return as Soon as Possible
Even if you can’t pay the tax — file your return immediately. Why? Because the penalty for filing late is MUCH worse than the penalty for paying late.
**Late-filing penalty:** 5% *per month*, up to 25% of your unpaid taxes
**Late-payment penalty:** 0.5% *per month*
In other words, filing late adds up fast. Don’t delay another day—getting your return in the system stops the worst of the penalties.
- If You’re Due a Refund, Good News!
If the IRS owes you $$$ money, there’s no penalty for filing late. But don’t celebrate too soon—you’ve only have three years from the original deadline to file and claim that refund.
After three years, your money is gone forever.
- Can’t Pay Entire Amount Due? Pay What You Can
If your tax bill is more than you can handle right now, don’t let that stop you from filing. The IRS doesn’t expect everyone to pay in full immediately.
Pay what you can now. This will reduce the interest and penalties that build up over time. You can make a payment right on the IRS website using (IRS Direct Pay) https://www.irs.gov/payments.
- Consider an IRS Payment Plan
For balances you can’t knock out right away, the IRS offers flexible payment plans, including:
-Short-term plans (180 days or less)
-Long-term plans (monthly payments over time)
Both can be set up quickly online. The long-term plan does come with a setup fee, but it is a small price to pay in order to avoid more serious consequences like collections or liens. Note: payment plans can only be setup after your tax return is filed.
- Don’t Ignore IRS Letters
If you didn’t file and/or pay, the IRS will start sending you love letters (notices). Read them. Respond to them. These letters give you important information about what you owe and what steps the IRS may take.
Ignoring them only makes things worse—and more expensive.
- Haven’t Filed in Years? There’s Still a Way Forward
If this isn’t the first year you’ve missed, it’s still not too late to fix it. Many taxpayers come to me after 5, 10, even 15 years of completely ignoring the IRS. The IRS wants you to get back into the system, and they’re often more lenient if you take action before they do.
Need Help? That’s What We’re Here For!
At Tax Rescue CPA, I specialize in helping people just like you—folks who missed deadlines, fell behind, or feel completely overwhelmed by the IRS.
We’ll help you:
- File back taxes (no matter how many years)
- Set up affordable payment plans
- Avoid or minimize penalties
- Communicate with the IRS on your behalf
You don’t have to go it alone—and it’s not as scary as it feels right now.
Ready to get back on track?
Contact us today for a free consultation and let’s make your tax problems a thing of the past.
Who’s Doing Your Taxes? – Tax Rescue CPA
