Can I file two years of tax returns at the same time? (2024)

FAQs

Can I file two years of tax returns at the same time? ›

You can file two years of tax returns, however, they must be completed separately. For example, you would have to input your 2020 tax forms in your 2020 tax return and your 2021 tax forms in your 2021 tax return.

Filing ITRs for Previous Assessment Years

For FY 2021-22 it is Dec 22. You can file returns for the previous years. This can be done, at best, for the two years preceding the current financial year. If you want to file your ITR for the FY 2017-18 then you must do so by the end of the FY 2019-2020.

And thankfully, you can also file tax returns from previous years using TurboTax. Select the year you want to file a return for to get started. Then, input your tax information and TurboTax will properly fill out the tax forms.

An original return claiming a refund must be filed within 3 years of its due date for a refund to be allowed in most instances.

If you haven't filed a tax return in a few years, the IRS will pull your tax documents from those years and use them to calculate your tax. They will then mail you a letter known as an assessment letter that details how much tax you owe.

PAST YEAR RETURNS

Each tax year has to be filed separately using the forms for the specific tax year. They cannot be combined in any way--do not even put them in the same envelope when you mail them. Software for past years is available back to 2019.

Claim a Refund

If you are due a refund for withholding or estimated taxes, you must file your return to claim it within 3 years of the return due date. The same rule applies to a right to claim tax credits such as the Earned Income Credit.

1) The "Online" TTX software can only be used for 2022 tax preparation, and can only be used up to mid-October of 2023. 2) The TTX "Desktop" software can be purchased and used for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

The IRS limits the number of returns that can be completed and e-filed per individual to five (5) individual returns.

Californians who don't owe money to the government usually won't face penalties if they file their taxes late. However, the later you file your taxes, the more time it will take before you see your return. If you wait too long, the government may simply absorb your unclaimed refund, leaving you with nothing.

Can I skip a year of filing taxes? ›

1. It's illegal. The law requires you to file every year that you have a filing requirement. The government can hit you with civil and even criminal penalties for failing to file your return.

There's no law or rule that says you have to file your 2022 return before you can do your 2023 return, but it's best to prepare your 2022 return first if possible. This gives you several advantages: You can transfer your 2022 data to your 2023 return, which saves time and prevents data-entry errors.

Additionally, you have to consider the state you live in. For example, if you live in California, they have a legal right to collect state taxes up to 20 years after the date of the assessment!

Filing Unfiled Returns

Filing six years of delinquent tax returns and negotiating a payment arrangement will generally satisfy the IRS when you have many years of unfiled returns. In certain cases the IRS does have the ability to require the taxpayers to go back more than six years when filing delinquent returns.

In general, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has 10 years to collect unpaid tax debt. After that, the debt is wiped clean from its books and the IRS writes it off. This is called the 10 Year Statute of Limitations. It is not in the financial interest of the IRS to make this statute widely known.

Simply put, an amended return is usually filed because something was incomplete, incorrect or omitted from the original tax return. It should be filed if you forgot to claim credits and deductions, or need to correct filing status and income – whether the result is a tax refund or a tax bill.

Prior year tax returns are available from the IRS for a fee. Taxpayers can request a copy of a tax return by completing and mailing Form 4506 to the IRS address listed on the form. There's a $43 fee for each copy and these are available for the current tax year and up to seven years prior.

A minor who may be claimed as a dependent has to file a return once their income exceeds their standard deduction. For tax year 2023 this is the greater of $1,250 or the amount of earned income plus $400 up to the full standard deduction of $13,850.

Some benefits of filing through Modernized e-File (MeF) are: Year Round Filing – Returns filed through MeF can be submitted year round. Prior Year Returns – MeF allows filing of prior year 1040 returns.

If you owe tax and don't file on time, there's also a penalty for not filing on time. The failure-to-file penalty is usually five percent of the tax owed for each month, or part of a month that your return is late, up to a maximum of 25%.