IF you have a refund (that is you are not owing tax on a return) If you haven't filed to get your refund, you need to file a return and it must be received at an IRS office no later than 3 years from the original due date of the tax return.
NEWS RELEASE: The
Second Circuit has disagreed with the IRS's prohibiting refunds under its
interpretation of the rule. §6511(a) Should not be used by the IRS to
prohibit a taxpayer from receiving money s/he is due - US Ct of Appeals 2nd
Circuit Weisbart v. US Dept of Treasury - check your Circuit for recent
developments.
If you didn't file your return when it was due (April 15), you generally can claim the refund by filing your return within 2 years from the date that the tax was paid. Payments made before the due date of the return (without regard to extensions) are considered paid on the due date (April 15 for most individuals). Examples include federal income tax withheld from wages, estimated income tax payments, and the Earned Income Tax Credit.
No. If you're due a refund, no penalty for late filing or late paying will be charged. The penalties are based on the tax not paid by the return due date.
Generally, your refund will be offset to satisfy any outstanding assessed balance owed to the IRS. Additionally, the IRS may hold your refund until you file all past due returns.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit for certain people who work, but don't earn high incomes. If you qualify, you could pay less federal tax or no tax, even get a tax refund. If you qualify, you can take this credit even if you don't owe any tax or didn't earn enough money to file a return.
For 1996, if you're eligible, you may be able to take this credit if you earned less than $28,495 and had two qualifying children, less than $25,078 and had one qualifying child, or less than $9,500, if you didn't have any qualifying children. If you haven't filed for 1997 or 1998, you may qualify for the EITC for those years. To learn more about EITC eligibility requirements, see Publication 596, Earned Income Credit.
Bob Parrish CPA PC Can assist with this.