Haven't filed since 1996...

[ibnatasha2u]

What is the name of your state? Washington

If a person ( will call person Bill) has not filed ANY taxes, state or federal, since 1996, will he (Bill) be "in trouble"? Bill has not worked, at least not a job that paid with a payroll check with deductions, only odd jobs that paid cash under the table. He has collected welfare benefits off and on during this 11 year gap in employment (must be nice).
Here is what Bill is wanting to know.....
1. Will he owe for not filing even though he had no real income?
2. He didn't file his 1997 taxes (the last year he was actually employed) and he was to get a return had he actually sent in the paperwork. Could he still get any money back from that years filing, if he filed it now?
3. Bill no longer has the w-2's from the employers from 1996 how can he get those? It is doubtfully the the former employers will still have them.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this post and for any answers to the questions I have asked for Bill.What is the name of your state?

 

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

You can only go back 3 years for the tax-year filing deadline to receive a refund. 1996 is outside of that 3 year window, so NO, Bill will NOT get a refund.

The government has a lower limit, depending on filing status and whether you are eligible to claim your own deduction (and if you must pay SS/Medicare), that you must file. If you are below that limit, no, you don't HAVE to file, but there may be reasons that you do anyway. It could be as simple as qualifying for EIC, getting any withholdings back, or to prove your income.

I suspect strongly that Bill is wondering what red flags he raises if he files a return for 2007 so that he can get the Stimulus money.

 

[roston]

I have a similar question. I won't sugar coat it, this is me we're talking about.
I haven't filed a return since 1992. I never bothered as I didn't need the money so didn't file.
I am now in a situation in which I could use the money I would get back. Also the tax refund. Will I be penalized for not filing in the past? Seems to me that since the gov't didn't have to pay me back the money I would have been owed in the past they won't penalize me now.

 

[LdiJ]

I have a similar question. I won't sugar coat it, this is me we're talking about.
I haven't filed a return since 1992. I never bothered as I didn't need the money so didn't file.
I am now in a situation in which I could use the money I would get back. Also the tax refund. Will I be penalized for not filing in the past? Seems to me that since the gov't didn't have to pay me back the money I would have been owed in the past they won't penalize me now.

You can only be penalized if you owed taxes for any of those years. If the IRS didn't hassle you to file a return its likely that you didn't owe (unless you changed addresses frequently and were therefore hard to find.)

I would certainly recommend that you actually prepare the returns for 2004 through 2007 to see where you stand...preferibly with the help of a tax professional.