"Dannie" <sloopoke.noname[at]nospam.optonline.net> wrote:

- quote -

IRS will consider him to have come back into compliance once
he files his returns for the past six years. That means he
needs to file for years 1997 through 2002 and then of course
file his 2003 return by the regular or extended due date.
He can get copies of information returns, i.e. Forms 1099
and W-2, from his local IRS walk-in office. IRS does not
charge for providing information return transcripts.
Federal disclosure laws require that he appear in-person to
ask for the information or that he give you an IRS power of
attorney or disclosure authorization. It's also not a bad
idea to ask the customer service staff in walk-in to check
for any Substitutes for Return (SFRs) the IRS may have filed
for him.

Locations and addresses of IRS walk-in offices are available
from the link below:

http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html

Do not enclose more than one return in a single envelope
when he's ready to mail them. Alternatively, he can file
them in person at the same walk-in office where he obtained
the transcripts. In fact, I recommend he file them this
way.

Barney Byrd

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You know you really ought to consult personally with a tax
pro that deals fairly regularly with non-filers. You need
to know both the official rules on this sort of thing, as
well as, practically speaking what tends to happen.

Charles Markham

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Dannie wrote:

- quote -

There's no time like the present to get started and not put
it off.

He needs to contact IRS and get them to furnish him copies
of 1099's and W-2's, 1098's maybe, the items that's been
reported to them in the past seven years.

He can then sit down with this information which should jog
his memory on any other items which may be missing. He may
have to actually estimate some income items if not reported
to IRS.

Then, armed with this information a good tax preparer should
be able to prepare the last seven years' tax returns. (Some
might counsel that six are enough.)

But time is of the essence, since any refund for tax year
2000 might be lost forever if not filed by April 15th 2004.

One important question. What contact has he had with IRS
on this over the years? Is there any correspondence already
FROM IRS? I mean correspondence which he hasn't "lost"
somewhere along the way?

Happy New Year,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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Dannie <sloopoke.noname[at]nospam.optonline.net> writes:

- quote -

There may be no "misdeeds"!!! That would depend on
circumstances. These agencies could very well owe (have
owed) refunds to the taxpayer. If uncertain about income,
ask IRS for a transcript of income. The quickest way to
obtain a copy of a prior year Form W-2 (PDF) is through your
employer. If that is not possible, you can order and pay for
copies of your entire return (attachments include Form W-2)
from IRS, or order W-2 information at no charge from IRS.
IRS can provide W-2 information for the current and past 9
years. Complete and mail Form 4506 (PDF), Request for Copy
or Transcript of Tax For (Effective Jan. 1, 2004, use Form
4506 (Rev. 1-1-2004, Request for Copy of Tax Return, for a
copy of a return and Form 4506-T Rev. 1-1-2004, Request for
Transcript or Tax Return, for W-2 information. You should
allow 60 calendar days for a response. Here is the form:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

In the past, we have gone (the taxpayers) into our local IRS
offices, identified ourselves, and had printouts given to us
on the spot. I don't know that they continue to offer that
service at all offices. In any case, I'd want to file all
prior returns in order to get as much back, if that's the
case, before it's too late. If money is owed, I'd want to
clean that up, as quickly as possible, in order to minimize
interest and penalty.

"Jack" - John H. Fisher - TaxService[at]aol.com
Philadelphia, Pa - Atlantic City, NJ - West Wildwood, NJ
My Newsgroups & Boards at: http://members.aol.com/TaxService/index.html

Where Ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise!=

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Just approached by person who claims to have not filed State
& Federal Tax returns for many years. Has some paperwork
(W2's) but not sure has all. Should he file for 2003 both
State & Federal and then wait for governments to come after
him for prior or is it wise to alert agency's of past
misdeeds?

Dannie

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