I’m 21(f) with a baby I had in 2024. I’ve worked from 2020-2024. My mom claimed she did my taxes for me only to find out she also didn’t do her taxes and never filled mine. This is 100% my fault because I never asked or did a follow up after I gave her my w-2 forms throughout the years. I have no idea how to do my own taxes or where to start. I’m an adult with a child so this is embarrassing to say but I want to get my life together. I know for sure she did my taxes in 2020 which means I need to do 2021-2024. I’ve only ever work at restaurants and between the years 2021-2022 I’ve worked at 3 restaurants that would take money out my check. 2022-2024 I worked at fine dining that didn’t take a lot out because I made tip meaning I would have to pay a lot at the end of the year. My co worker would say they owed like 4k plus. My fiance claimed my daughter in 2024. Thats everything I know and was wondering if I should look for a tax Lawyer or tax professional and how much would I have I probably owe rn.
Edit: we have been engaged ever since we found out about the baby but haven’t actually gotten married.
I also got Medicaid when I was pregnant with my daughter
Located in NC
2020-2022 I was a host at 3 different restaurants
I did extremely well with tips like $100-$400 a day depending if it was busy or slow. It was fine dinning and I was a "sever assistant" (a busser) Oct 2022-June 2024 but now I stay at home with the baby because we can't afford a babysitter rn, we used to have family help watch her but only for short periods of time not enough to cover a whole shift. My fiancé makes 40k a year and we live with his mom atm
Haven’t done my taxes in 5 years
byu/Previous-Log-4278 intax
Posted by Previous-Log-4278
11 Comments
Curious
You mention a husband, were you legally married at any time during 2024?
So you didn’t do a married filing jointly return in 2024? Why?
You are probably owed refunds for those years. If so, Uncle Sam really doesn’t care that you don’t claim money owed to you by filing returns.
You can go back three years and file. If you actually end up owing, there will be penalties and interest.
Collect all your documentation and go see a tax professional. This is not a terribly unusual situation and hopefully you will get some refunds.
You didn’t think you might be due a refund for the years your mom supposedly did your taxes, or that you might owe the IRS money for taxes? Most people would at least ask their tax preparer about that, even if they are rather clueless about submitting tax forms to the IRS. Moreover, since you did file for 2020, you obviously knew that tax forms need to be signed by you. So how did that slip your mind for 2021-24? This whole scenario is nuts!
Contact a Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic in your area. They provide representation by tax attorneys, CPAs and Enrolled Agents for free if you qualify.
You should create an account on irs.gov (requires creating an id.me account if you don’t already have one) and check your tax transcript to confirm which years you didn’t file.
You can go talk to a “tax professional” or just buy copies of Turbo Tax desktop edition for the years you didn’t file, go thru the Turbo Tax interview questions for each year (starting with the first year) and mail in the forms since it’s probably too late to efile.
2021 will have to be done via paper / mailed in. If you do not make a lot of money look for a Low Income Tax clinic near you. You might find one willing to help. First thing is getting all of your wage and income transcripts so you can do them accurately. Go to IRS.gov and find the form for the transcripts and order them. Then go to one of the providers that do freefile and try to see if you qualify for free filing depends on your state of residency and income. If you can serve tables at a full busy restaurant then working the tax software wont be too hard for you. Closing out your bank trained you for this type of thing. Dnt listen to co-workers for tax advise. Each persons situation is unique. It will take time so put 1-2 hrs every day to sort this out and you can finish in about 2 weeks. You wanted to know where to start: 1. Wage and income transcript. Order by finding info on Irs websote 2. Find help doing them option A tax software available online option B LITC in your area. 3. Fill out returns and get balance due amt. 4. Work out installment agreement if infact you owe. Gd luck
Probably not that big of an issue as you likely have refunds coming for 2022 onward unless you did really well with tips at that job. There are free resources from the IRS and as long as your income is under a certain amount, if you feel like you are comfortable entering your W-2 information and don’t have anything else then you should be able to do this on your own. I don’t think they have been shut down yet, sorry if so. If your income is over the level to use these, try turbo tax or other services you pay for but do not under any circumstances take the early refund option or whatever they call it, they charge interest that’s not worth paying.
If that’s not for you look for either a local tax preparer or some sort of taxpayer assistance group that you qualify for but be skeptical if it doesn’t seem right. Anyone who’s fees are based on your refund is a scam.
go to vita
Just go to H&R Block. They will help you get squared away. Hopefully you didn’t actually owe much and don’t own much in penalties.
I had a “fancy” tax guy for 5 years. Had a penalty because he wrongly estimated my payment. He also just didn’t do any of our deductions right. After the penalty thing I went to HR Block and they refilled 3 years of taxes and we are getting tens of thousands back.
HR block is also nice because you can go in and talk to a human person. Turbo Tax is online and frustrating.