You’re Not Alone: Taking the First Step When You Haven’t Filed Taxes and Don’t Know What You Owe
- Suzanne Weathers
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
By Suzanne Weathers, EA | Weathers & Associates Consulting
Solving Tax Problems
For many people, the idea of facing back taxes can feel overwhelming—especially if you haven’t filed in several years and don’t know what you might owe. That kind of uncertainty can be paralyzing. But if you’re reading this, you’ve already taken the first—and hardest—step: deciding to face it.
This post is written for non-filers who don’t know where to begin. Whether you want to handle it on your own or seek professional help later, this guide is here to inform, encourage, and empower you.
Why Some People Don’t File—and Why That’s More Common Than You Think
Life happens. Illness, job changes, caregiving, business losses, divorce—it’s not uncommon for one skipped tax year to snowball into several. Fear of what might happen only adds to the stress, and for some, years go by before they’re ready to face it.
Here’s what’s important: you’re not alone, and the situation is almost never as bad as it feels. The IRS is focused on bringing taxpayers back into compliance—not punishment. And the longer you wait, the fewer options you may have. But you do have options.
Step 1: Get Clear on Where You Stand
If you don’t know what you owe—or even what years you’ve missed—that’s okay. Your first step is simply to gather the facts. You can do this on your own by requesting your IRS Wage & Income Transcripts and Account Transcripts, which list the documents (like W-2s, 1099s, etc.) that have been reported under your name and Social Security number.
Here’s how to get started:
Create or log in to your account at irs.gov
Request wage & income transcripts for the years you believe you missed
Request account transcripts to see if the IRS has filed a return on your behalf (known as a Substitute for Return)
Once you have these, you’ll be in a better position to understand your starting point. No enforcement action is triggered by pulling transcripts. You’re simply gathering information.
What If You Discover You Owe?
This part causes the most anxiety—but many people are surprised to find the outcome is not as bad as they feared. Some owe very little. Others owe more, but qualify for relief or payment options. Still others find that they didn’t need to file at all.
Whatever your situation, the important thing is that now you know. From there, you can make informed decisions—whether on your own or with help.
Free Tool: Tax Resolution Document Checklist
To help organize the materials you might need for this process, we’ve created a Tax Resolution Document Checklist. It’s a simple guide to what documents are helpful in preparing back tax returns and evaluating next steps.
Use this whether you’re planning to file the returns yourself, work with a tax professional, or just want to better understand your situation before doing anything else.
When You’re Ready for Support
If at any point the process feels overwhelming, or you’d simply prefer not to go it alone, Weathers & Associates is here to help. As a licensed Enrolled Agent, I assist individuals every day in resolving tax problems with professionalism, discretion, and respect.
But whether you choose to move forward independently or with help, the most important thing is that you move forward. You’re not stuck—and you’re not powerless.
You've Already Done the Hardest Part
You don’t need to have all the answers today. Start with one small action—get your transcripts, download the checklist, and take it one step at a time.
And if you ever want guidance, we’re here.
Need a hand?
📞 (509) 994-8904 | contact us
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