How to File Old Taxes
- 1). Complete IRS form 1040, as well as any schedules required. For example: schedule A for itemized deductions, schedule B for interest and dividend income and schedule C for business income.
- 2). Determine the amount of interest and penalties due for filing the return late. Interest and penalties begin from the original due date of the tax return. For example, if an individual is completing his 2005 tax return in 2010 and did not file form 4868, interest and penalties would accrue from April 15, 2006, until the date the return was received by the IRS. If you do not want to compute the interest and penalties, you can choose to have the IRS prepare the calculation and send you a bill.
- 3). Decide how you are going to pay the tax due. If you are not able to pay the balance in full and the amount due, including taxes, penalties and interest, is less than $25,000, you can establish an agreement with the IRS to pay the balance over time. For balances greater than $25,000, prepare forms 433-F and 9465 to request a payment plan.
- 4). Mail the tax return, schedules and payment to the Internal Revenue Service Center for your area. Service centers are listed on the last page of all form 1040 instructions. Tax returns that are not filed on time are not able to be e-filed.
