Back Taxes, File Previous Tax Returns

Back Taxes
2023 & Prior

When you miss a tax deadline, your income tax return becomes a back tax return which is another way of saying a tax return for a previous year.

You can only e-file IRS and state income taxes for a given year until the October deadline of the following year. For all previous years or back taxes, find the tax forms below.

• You can complete and sign the forms before you download and mail them to the IRS mailing address or state tax agency - state mailing addresses are listed on individual state pages.
• Be sure to mail your IRS return to the current mailing address based on where you reside so your return goes to the right place.
• See how to file a 2020-2021 Return to claim a missing stimulus payment plus details on the Recovery Rebate Credit. Note that 2020 refunds have expired, but you can claim the third stimulus payment until April 15, 2025.

Search for previous tax year forms and publications.

Can You Still File a Return for a Previous Year?

You can file taxes for a given year at any point once we have finished that year; taxpayers are given almost the entire following calendar year to file that return online.

If you must file an individual income tax return for a past year, the forms are listed below by tax year. Select the forms and complete them via the PDF editor before you sign, print, and mail in the return(s).

• You can prepare and e-file your current year return on eFile.com regardless of when you mail your back tax return. Remember, prior-year tax returns cannot be electronically filed anywhere.
• Your tax refund expires after three years - claim your money now.

A tax year is from January 1 - December 31 for any given year; a tax season (the timeframe to e-file taxes) is from January 1 until October 15 of any current year. During any current tax season or calendar year, a timely tax return should be e-filed for the previous calendar year. There are tax extensions if the taxpayer is unable to file by the date which can extend the filing deadline to October 15, but not the payment deadline. If you do not owe taxes, you can prepare and e-file until the October date without filing an extension.

What Are the Tax Refund Deadlines?

In order to claim tax refunds from prior tax years, these are the deadline by which a tax return has to be filed. After this three-year tax return grace period, the refund would expire; for more details, watch this tax deadline video.

• You must have filed a 2020 tax return by May 17, 2024 to claim a 2020 refund, including the stimulus 1 and 2 payments.
• You must file a 2021 tax return by April 15, 2025 to claim a 2021 refund, including the stimulus 3 payment.
• The 2022 return was due by April 15, 2026; 2022 refunds will no longer be able to be claimed on April 15, 2029.
• 2023 Taxes were due by April 15, 2024; file 2023 taxes by April 15, 2027 or your refund will expire.

The IRS may withhold a refund check in order to pay past due child support payments, student-loans or other federal tax debt owed through a tax refund offset,

You can only e-file your current tax return on time until October 15th of the following year, but the timely deadline is April 15 or Tax Day. If you owe taxes, you might be subject to late filing and late payment fees if you wait until after the deadline to e-file your return. Additionally, consider filing a tax extension and e-file your return by the October deadline. Check the PENALTYucator for detailed tax penalty fees.

How to File a Late Tax Return?

The timely tax filing and e-file deadlines for all previous tax years have passed. At this point, you can only prepare and mail in the paper tax forms to the IRS and/or state tax agencies.

Links to tax federal and state tax forms by tax year can be found below; see how to file back state taxes.

Important eFile Tax Tip: In case you have not filed a previous year's tax return and you owe taxes, do this as soon as possible with the forms below. Why? The late filing penalty (4.5%/month of the tax amount owed, plus interest) is larger than the late payment penalty (0.5%/month, plus interest).

File your return and pay as little or as much as you can afford, or even nothing. Doing so will result in the higher filing penalties stopping once you have filed. If you are owed a tax refund, there are no penalties, but your refund is surrendered if you do not claim it within three years.

We provide all the forms, tax calculators, and tools for the previous year's tax returns below. You can also contact one of our Taxperts® to assist you with your back taxes or amendments.

One More Awareness Tip: If you expect a tax refund for a previous year's tax return, you don't have to worry about penalties. Be aware that you can only claim your tax refund for a previous tax year within three years of the original tax return's due date or deadline. If you owe taxes, there is no time limit; this is only if you expect a tax refund.

Can I Calculate, Fill Out Back Taxes Online?

The table below provides forms and tools by tax year. For 2015 and later taxes, we have made tax calculators and tools available for each year to assist you in planning.

eFile.com offers tax preparation and e-filing for the current tax year. Prepare and e-file your federal and state return by Tax Day so you do not have to go through the hard work of calculating taxes and sending your information through the mail. e-Filing your returns is the safest and quickest way to get your taxes done.

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