You are not the first person to walk in here with this, and it is more fixable than it feels from where you are sitting. Most people who come to us about unfiled returns have been carrying it for years, and the carrying is usually worse than the fixing. The paperwork is rarely the hard part. The hard part is deciding to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What if the IRS already filed for me?
If you did not file, the IRS may have prepared a Substitute for Return on your behalf. It is built from the income reported about you — your W-2s and 1099s — and it gives you no deductions, no credits, and no dependents. The single filing status. Nothing you would have claimed. Which means the balance on it is almost always higher than what you actually owe. You can replace a Substitute for Return by filing your own. People are regularly surprised by how far the number falls once the return is prepared properly.
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What if I don't have my records?
This is the objection we hear most, and it stops almost nobody in practice. The IRS holds wage and income transcripts showing the W-2s, 1099s, mortgage interest and brokerage activity that were reported under your Social Security number. We can request those on your behalf and rebuild most years from them. Between the transcripts and whatever you do have, we can usually reconstruct a return you would recognize.
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What if I am due a refund?
Not everyone with unfiled returns owes money. A good number are owed refunds and have no idea. You have three years from the original due date to claim a refund. After that it is gone, and the IRS keeps it.
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What if I cannot pay what the returns show?
That is a separate and very solvable problem. Installment agreement, currently-not-collectible status, penalty abatement, or in some cases an Offer in Compromise. File first — the penalties for not filing are the expensive ones.
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How long does all this take?
It depends on how many years and how quickly the transcripts come back, but most people are fully filed within a few weeks of getting started. Resolving a balance afterwards takes longer.
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Will the IRS come after me once I file?
Filing is what stops the situation escalating, not what starts it. If you owe, there will be a balance to deal with — but you will be dealing with it on ordinary terms rather than as someone with unfiled returns.
How Our Late Tax Filing Process Works
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Free consultation:
Tell us roughly how long it has been. You do not need documents for this conversation, and you will not be lectured.
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We find out where you stand:
We pull your transcripts and establish what is actually outstanding — which is very often less alarming than what people have been imagining.
Give us a half hour to discuss your financial needs and you'll see how Malkasian Accountancy's unique, personalized service can help you achieve your objectives.
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We agree on a plan and a price:
How many years, in what order, and what it will cost. All of it before any work begins.
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We prepare and file:
Returns prepared, reviewed by an Enrolled Agent, and filed. Penalty relief requested where there are grounds.
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We sort out the balance:
If you owe, we put a plan in place and deal with the IRS on your behalf. If you are owed a refund, we make sure you claim it while you still can.
Don't let the stress of late tax filing linger over you. Call us at (916) 971-9315 today for your consultation. Someone here picks up — usually in a ring or two — and you will get a straight answer about where you stand. No judgment; we have seen longer gaps than yours.
Schedule a
Free Consultation
We'll talk about what you need and how Malkasian Accountancy can help, whether that's tax preparation, planning, or accounting services.
Our team is ready to assist you. We'll respond as quickly as possible during normal business hours, often the same day.
Client Testimonials
"My husband and I have been going to Jeffrey Malkasian for many years to have our taxes prepared and have been very satisfied with him and his office! I would highly recommend this office!"
Lori Bates
"I have used them for over 10 years. They are professional and personable. They listen and work with your best interests at heart. I recommend them for your taxes and financial advice "
Joe Gencur
"Highly recommend. They have been doing my taxes for 20+ years. Call them today. "
Andrea Meza
"Glen and Jeffrey are always available to answer any business or personal tax questions for the past five years. I'll be a client for life."
David Mead
"Very friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, professional get the job done quick and effectively. Very reasonable pricing."
Stan Thomas
"Yessica is our tax preparer and she does an amazing job. She is very welcoming and patient and answers all of our questions. She looks for every opportunity to save us money. The front desk and phone staff are always friendly and helpful as well. "
Curtis M.
"I’ve been working with my tax preparer Yessica for several years now, and I couldn’t be happier with the service. She is consistently professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful. Every year, yessica makes the tax process smooth and stress-free, taking the time to explain everything clearly and ensuring my husband and I get the best possible outcome. "
Esmeralda Medina
"Great service, I've been a client for 20 plus years "