Catching up
Prior-Year Returns
Unfiled years are a routine part of our practice. We reconstruct what was reported about you, prepare the missing returns, and get the record straight.
What this covers
Years go unfiled for ordinary reasons — a move, an illness, a business that got busy, a year where the paperwork simply never came together. The longer it sits the larger it feels, but the work itself is methodical.
We begin by requesting your IRS transcripts, which show the income statements filed under your name for each year. From there we reconstruct the year, ask you for the records only you can supply, and prepare the return. Where several years are open, we sequence them so each one builds on the last correctly.
If a balance is owed, we will tell you what the return shows before it is filed, and discuss the options available for addressing it.
We do not promise a particular outcome, penalty result or settlement. What we can commit to is accurate returns and a clear account of what they show.
Usually a good fit if
- One or more tax years were never filed
- You received a notice about a missing return
- You need filed returns for a loan, visa or benefits application
- You are unsure which years are actually outstanding
- A business entity has unfiled years as well as your personal returns
What to gather
- Photo identification
- Any income documents you still have for the years involved
- Copies of any IRS or state correspondence received
- The most recent return you did file, if any
- Records of self-employment income and expenses for those years
How this engagement runs.
- 1
Request transcripts
We establish which years are outstanding and what was reported to the IRS for each one.
- 2
Reconstruct and prepare
Each year is rebuilt from transcripts and your records, oldest first, and reviewed.
- 3
File and resolve
Returns are filed and, where a balance results, we discuss the resolution paths available.
Also available
Other ways we can help.
Individual Tax Preparation
Federal and state returns prepared, reviewed and e-filed for individuals and families.
Business Tax Services
Returns and year-round support for sole proprietors, partnerships, S corporations and corporations.
Tax Amendments
Corrections to returns already filed, including returns prepared elsewhere.
Ready to get your return moving?
Tell us about your situation and we will confirm what needs to be filed and what to gather first.