Tax Return's

[MotorCityMadMan]

What is the name of your state ? Michigan

After my di·vorce in 1991 Alcohol and I ckecked out. I fired Mr Alcohol in June/18/2004.
Now I'm restoring my life. I have many issues to over come. I will take them one at a time. So I will start here with taxes. I believe the last time I filed taxes was 1995 or 1996. Just getting the paper work together will be a challenge. Paying for a lawyer at this time is not possible. The frist thing to do would try to get the paper work. Where would I start, say if I can't find the paper work ? Would it be wize to go to the IRS and ask for there forgiveness and help ?

The MotorCityMadMan
@¿@

[efflandt]

If you owed tax during those years, it would be surprising if they did not contact you or withhold a subsequent refund. If you were due a refund, they sit on it until you file or lose it.

Generally, if a taxpayer is due a refund for withholding or estimated taxes paid, it must be claimed within 3 years of the return due date or risk losing the right to it. If you were due a refund for 2003, you might be able to still recover that (possibly offset by late filing penalty). But any refund before that is likely lost.

However, if you owe money, they have up to 10 years to come after you.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by MotorCityMadMan

What is the name of your state ? Michigan

After my di·vorce in 1991 Alcohol and I ckecked out. I fired Mr Alcohol in June/18/2004.
Now I'm restoring my life. I have many issues to over come. I will take them one at a time. So I will start here with taxes. I believe the last time I filed taxes was 1995 or 1996. Just getting the paper work together will be a challenge. Paying for a lawyer at this time is not possible. The frist thing to do would try to get the paper work. Where would I start, say if I can't find the paper work ? Would it be wize to go to the IRS and ask for there forgiveness and help ?

The MotorCityMadMan
@¿@

The first thing that you should do is pull together the paperwork and get the returns prepared (not necessarily file them) so that you know where you stand. Once you know that, then you can get better advice on how to proceed.

Were you employed, or self employed? That can make a difference. If you received W2s or 1099s the IRS knows that you have income and you haven't been filing.

[MotorCityMadMan]

Thank you for responding to my post.

To efflandt: 1. The IRS has never contacted me any year. That means from the time I started filing taxes.

To Ldij: 1. I will start trying to get the paper work all together. My life has been so fragmented for so long. I think you, very good advise. I have been employed all my life by companies. I've received all W2's and I think some 1099's. If the IRS knows that I'm earning money why haven't they contacted me I wonder.

The MotorCityMadMan

@¿@

[garrula lingua]

Contact your prior employers
Ask for a copy of your W-2 (10 years, if you can; start with the last 3 years 2003,4 and 5).

You may have had too much deducted from your check and were due a refund.

How simple are your taxes ?
Are/were you single or married; have children ?
ever file itemized deductions, or just simple 1040 ?
own any businesses or a house during this period ?

[garrula lingua]

Go here for IRS forms, publications and tax tables for prior years:

[url]http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=98339,00.html[/url]

Good luck! You can do simple 1040 returns, easily (now, I don't about Michigan state tax due ... you may have to do the same routine for Michigan).

[abezon]

File Form 4506-T to request a copy of all income/withholding information the IRS has on file for 1995-2005. It's free. [url]http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506t.pdf[/url] That will cover any information that was not on a W-2, such as dividends received or mortgage interest paid. The IRS transcript of your W-2 will NOT include any state information. You can get a copy of a W-2 from the social security dept, but they charge $37 per year, so you should try your employers & the IRS first.

[Snipes5]

Actually, IRS free transcripts do include dividends, capital gains and mortgage interest paid, and also, surprisingly, tuition paid.

Snipes

[abezon]

Originally Posted by Snipes5

Actually, IRS free transcripts do include dividends, capital gains and mortgage interest paid, and also, surprisingly, tuition paid.

Snipes

Umm, isn't that what I said?

[Snipes5]

Yeah, I guess so. Probably shouldn't answer any more posts until the demerol wears off.