Unfiled Tax Return

IRS Definition

You haven’t filed your federal income tax return for this year or previous years. Regardless of your reason for not filing a required return, file your tax return as soon as possible.

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If you don’t file a required tax return by the due date, the IRS will charge you a 5% per month penalty for failing to file. If you owe taxes on the return, the IRS will also charge a 0.5% per month failure to pay penalty. Interest will also accrue on any unpaid balance from the day the return was due until the date you pay the tax in full.

The IRS can also file a return for you, called a substitute for return (SFR). The IRS prepares the return based on information it has from your employers, banks, financial institutions and other payers.

If you have a refund due, you must file your tax return within three years of the due date of the return or you’ll lose your refund.

Learn how to address unfiled tax returns.