Argument With Girlfriend - Will I Go To Prison If I Don’t Do My Taxes?

yes

I think that you are required to file, though the deadline\\s are not so strictly enforced if you are due a refund.

I usually file for an extension, then miss the extension deadline. Then the IRS mails me a letter telling me i have to file and i do, within a few weeks, and i get my refund.

Why don't you just hire an accountant to do it for you. It probably won't cost you more than $250 and you probably will be getting some money back.

In short, i believe you are required to file tax returns even if you are getting a refund, and they can force you to do it.

tax facts wrote:

In short, i believe you are required to file tax returns even if you are getting a refund, and they can force you to do it.

I mean, I understand the IRS says I’m “required to file,” but what will ultimately happen if I don’t? I’ve been in the workforce for 9 years and never received a single mailing from the IRS. Will I eventually get a (exorbitantly large) bill for backlogged fines? If I ignore those, will I be arrested for tax evasion? Or as long as I remain poor and unattached and due for a refund will they leave me alone? I bet they’ll leave me alone.

You're good bro. Don't worry about it.

You are literally giving away a few thousand dollars every year (minimum). Multiply that over 9 years and that's a brand new Tesla. You're a freaking idiot. Grow up dude.

If you ignore a problem long enough it will go away. The IRS is notorious for being extremely accommodating.

With the increase in the standard deduction, you are leaving quite a bit of money on the table. It would be easier to file and be done with it than not file and eventually get audited and have to go through 7 years of old financial records. It is easy to see why you only make $33k a year. I filed my own taxes from the age of 15 until I was in my early 30s and started using an accountant as the business tax laws and depreciation schedules became too time consuming for my liking. Grow up.

You are required to pay taxes. The IRS wants you to 'do' taxes as well.

Given what you've told us, we assume (possibly wrongly, but probably correctly) that you are already paying more than you owe. So, you are paying taxes and won't go to jail.

However, as others pointed out, you are also being an idiot. There are free online programs to help you do your taxes.

Lofihiphopradio wrote:

tax facts wrote:

In short, i believe you are required to file tax returns even if you are getting a refund, and they can force you to do it.

I mean, I understand the IRS says I’m “required to file,” but what will ultimately happen if I don’t? I’ve been in the workforce for 9 years and never received a single mailing from the IRS. Will I eventually get a (exorbitantly large) bill for backlogged fines? If I ignore those, will I be arrested for tax evasion? Or as long as I remain poor and unattached and due for a refund will they leave me alone? I bet they’ll leave me alone.

I bet you are right, that as long as you are due a refund, they can't actually force you to do it but they can start sending you threatening letters.

I asked a lawyer friend a couple of times and he said they can't actually make you file if you are due a refund but it seems like one of those gray areas. What would seem to hang you up is - how would they know that you don't actually owe taxes unless you file the returns? SO, without a tax return, for all they know you may owe, and if you do, you would be responsible for payment, a fine, and interest on the amount owed.

Lofihiphopradio wrote:

I’m 26 years old and have never done my taxes. I earn $33k/year. My girlfriend is convinced that if I continue to blow off my taxes every year I will incur some terrible penalty, likely going to prison. She claims that “everybody does their taxes,” and is incredulous that I could be so nonchalant about skipping it. I know I’m being foolish to leave the refunds on the table, but am I putting myself in serious jeopardy?

Thank you, LetsRun.

Don't do it. Just keep on like you are. Your not filing and leaving your refund in their accounts cancels out my own failure to pay taxes at all the last 5 years. Let's just leave everything the way it is. If they come after me I'll tell them you and me struck a deal, so it all evens out.

1050EZ. One page. Done in 5 min Moran.

Lofihiphopradio wrote:

I’ve been in the workforce for 9 years and never received a single mailing from the IRS.

Will I eventually get a (exorbitantly large) bill for backlogged fines?

Yes, you absolutely will.

If I ignore those, will I be arrested for tax evasion?

More likely you'll be locked up in a dungeon, and never see the light of day again, while meanwhile they've taken everything that you had.

Or as long as I remain poor and unattached and due for a refund will they leave me alone? I bet they’ll leave me alone.

They're letting it build up and giving it time so you won't be able to verify anything, then they'll sock it to you big time.

They are not going to leave you alone.

1040EZ wrote:

1050EZ. One page. Done in 5 min Moran.

Poor people, especially ppl of color, never file, but no worries, IRS cant get blood from a stone. The exception is actor Wesley Snipes who got three years in prison and also lost $$$ millions by never filing returns while making millions.

Of course, if you dont file you'll never get a home mortgage and pay the highest rate on a car loan.

Eventually the IRS will file your taxes for you. They will not be generous. They will come after you for any interest and penalties.

RealCici wrote:

You are literally giving away a few thousand dollars every year (minimum). Multiply that over 9 years and that's a brand new Tesla. You're a freaking idiot. Grow up dude.

Going to ask to see your work on this...

How do you know you would have received refunds?

Most likely you will never see jail time, they'll probably just turn your refund in to a bill, take you to court, hit you with huge fines and then garnish your wages for the fines and tax bill

I think you are probably right, but I would note that this situation probably crossed over the line of criminal behavior by the letter of the law. Intentional tax evasion is not the same thing as a civil violation. It is likely not to see jail time because of the relatively small amounts and if this person was doing the same thing on 300000 rather than 30000 it would be likely to result in jail time. Of course it is possible this individual is right and they would be owed refunds. In which case there would be absolutely no penalty whatsoever.

Jimmy21 wrote:

Most likely you will never see jail time, they'll probably just turn your refund in to a bill, take you to court, hit you with huge fines and then garnish your wages for the fines and tax bill

I've dealt with the IRS for my mother-in-law on missing some back tax returns.

Once they catch a mistake, you're dealing with bureaucrats who can be infuriatingly incompetent. Worse, when you file a correction, you're told "Do not contact the IRS to ask about this. The IRS will contact you." Months can pass and then you get another, "Reply in seven days (or whatever) or we'll garnish your wages.

On the other hand, filing back tax returns is relatively easy. You could get a windfall of several thousand dollars.

He ignored paying taxes for over a decade. And he made a decent salary. Eventually, the IRS noticed and came after him for not filing but more important, for the interest on the money. He was screwed and had to spend a lot of time in court and in paying "da man". Don't be stupid. Ignoring a problem (probably what you do with most things I would project) is not a solution.