Is there any way to find out if you forgot to file income taxes one year?

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Just wondering why anyone would want to have the IRS hold onto their money during the year anyway. I prefer to come out even if I can. It is OK to owe them a few dollars at the end of the year. That means that I had use of my money all year and the IRS does not pay interest on that money. The coolest thing would be if it were legal to hold the money all year long and pay the entire amount on April 15th. Place it in an account and make a few penies in the process. That would be free money.

[Linda_d]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

Just wondering why anyone would want to have the IRS hold onto their money during the year anyway. I prefer to come out even if I can. It is OK to owe them a few dollars at the end of the year. That means that I had use of my money all year and the IRS does not pay interest on that money. The coolest thing would be if it were legal to hold the money all year long and pay the entire amount on April 15th. Place it in an account and make a few penies in the process. That would be free money.

I used to think this way until the interest on savings became virtually non-existent. Consequently, I now let Uncle Sam collect my extra money all year and then give it back to me in a nice tidy lump sum, say about, March 20th or so. Otherwise, I'd just fritter away that extra $20-$35 a week through the year (including taking it out of my bank account).

[rdflk]

No offense, but how in the world does somebody "forget" to file his/her income taxes?

I confess I thought this, too.

IF we're talking about the '09 year and the IRS hasn't caught it yet, you'd continue to take a chance that they never would.

You've already forfeited any refund you might have been owed, so at this point the plusses are 1) not continuing to look over your shoulder as to whether the IRS will come calling for you.... and 2) you get the record clear once and for all.

The down side is: 1) you COULD open a bit of a can or worms especially if you owed, and 2) if indeed you did owe, now you'll only owe more due to fines and penalties, and 3) now you've popped up and future returns could be flagged for more scrutiny.

Still, likely best to get it settled once and for all.

[smartygurl]

Originally Posted by Linda_d

No offense, but how in the world does somebody "forget" to file his/her income taxes?

A mother on chemo for that year to which I was taking her and a father who had triple bypass surgery at the same time...

[smartygurl]

I am thinking now that maybe I E-filed that year, because I still have the attached W-2's but can't remember.