Filing Back Tax Returns With Licensed Tax Agents in Pasadena, CA
It is common for one missed year to turn into two, then five, then more. Oftentimes taxpayers do not file for many years, and because no return reaches the IRS, the IRS files one for them, taking no deductions or credits into account. At Fresh Start Tax Relief Services in Pasadena, our licensed tax agents find out which years were never filed, which years the IRS filed on your behalf, and file them correctly. The result is often a much smaller liability, and sometimes none at all.
Why Correct Returns Change Everything
When the IRS prepares a return for you, it is called a Substitute for Return. It typically uses only the income reported by employers, banks, and other payers, and it usually assigns a filing status such as single or married filing separately. It does not include your dependents, business expenses, or most deductions.
That is why an IRS-prepared return so often shows far more tax than you actually owe. Once a correct return is filed, the IRS can adjust its assessment to reflect your real situation. For self-employed taxpayers in particular, adding legitimate business expenses can make a dramatic difference.
How We File Your Missing Years
Finding Out What the IRS Already Has
We start by requesting your IRS wage and income transcripts. These show the W-2s, 1099s, and other income documents reported under your name for recent years. Pulling them first tells us exactly what the IRS sees and keeps your returns consistent with its records.
Rebuilding Records You No Longer Have
Lost paperwork is one of the main reasons people keep putting off filing. You do not need a perfect shoebox of receipts to get started. Between the transcripts and the records you do have, we reconstruct each year as accurately as possible.
Filing the Years That Matter
The IRS generally expects the last six years of returns to be filed before it will agree to most resolution programs. We focus on bringing those years current, so you are in compliance and ready for the next step.
Do Not Leave a Refund Behind
Not every missing return ends in a balance due. Some years may actually produce a refund. The catch is timing: to claim a refund, you generally must file within three years of the original due date. After that, the money is gone, and it cannot be used to offset a balance from another year. Filing sooner protects those refunds.
What Happens After Your Returns Are Filed
Once your returns are on record, we know your true balance, and that is when real resolution can begin. If you still owe, options may include an installment agreement, penalty abatement, or an Offer in Compromise for those who meet certain financial guidelines. Our unfiled tax returns page covers the risks of waiting, and our delinquent taxes page explains how unpaid balances grow.
Serving Pasadena and Taxpayers Everywhere
Our women-owned team has decades of experience dealing with the IRS, and we work with clients in Pasadena, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Alhambra, and throughout Los Angeles County. We also help people in other states: "Not only do we service every single county in California, but we service taxpayers nationwide." Learn more about us on the Fresh Start Tax Relief home page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many years of back returns do I need to file?
The IRS generally expects the last six years of returns to be filed before it will agree to most resolution programs, including installment agreements and Offers in Compromise.
What if I lost my records for those years?
We request your IRS wage and income transcripts, which show the W-2s and 1099s reported under your name. Combined with any records you still have, they let us reconstruct each year.
Can I still get a refund for an old tax year?
Generally, only if you file within three years of that return's original due date. After that, the refund is forfeited and cannot be applied to other years.
Can a correct return replace the one the IRS filed for me?
Yes. When you file a correct return for a year the IRS already filed, the IRS can adjust its assessment based on your actual income, deductions, and filing status.
Will I have to pay everything at once after filing?
No. Once your returns are filed and the true balance is known, options such as an installment agreement, penalty abatement, or an Offer in Compromise may be available.