Lets pretend you dont owe any money. And you want to file for years 2003, 2004, and 2005. Should you send them in all at the same time or stagger them. Say file an extension for 2005, then send in 2003, wait a month, then 2004...wait another month, then 2005. Thoughts?
215196
File your 2005 return on time if possible.\n\nFile all of the returns in separate envelopes.\n\nIt doesn't matter if you mail them all at the same time or staggered.  By separating them into individual envelopes, they will be handled separately.\n\nYou might even indicate on the outside of the envelope which tax year is contained inside.
441749
Being an employee at H&R Block, I know that the software we use allows us to enter your and your spouse's tax information into the computer and figure out if it is better to file Married Filing Jointly (MFJ) or Married Filing Separate (MFS).  Like Waggy said, it is rare to be in a better tax situation when filing MFS rather than MFJ especially when children are involved.  Besides, it usually costs more to file two tax returns rather than one.  The benefit for MFS would have to be more than $100 better than MFJ to justify two tax returns.\n\nTherefore, I want you to be sure you did file as MFS and not as Single or as Head of Household.  Most people who say we filed "Separately" don't mean "Married Filing Separately", but instead simply mean they filed separate returns.  One might have been "Single" and the other might have been "Head of Household".  If this is what you mean, be advised that if you are married as of the last day of the year, you can NOT file as "Single".  If you lived together at any time during the last 6 months of the year, you also can NOT file as "Head of Household" (HOH).  These violate IRS laws.  So, if you were married on or before December 31st, 2005 and lived together for at least one day from July 1st, 2005 until December 31st, 2005 AND you or your spouse filed as Single or HOH, you are best advised to go back to the people who did your tax return and let them know the situation and have them do an amended return for you.  You may owe or you may get a refund.\n\nIf you both sat down with the H&R preparer and they said "You would save taxes by filing MFS instead of MFJ", then they are probably being honest.  Would it hurt to have someone else verify the information?  No, but don't pay too much for the verification.  In fact, you could, for free, go to the local district H&R office (bring all your 2005 tax information) and tell them your situation.  Tell them the preparer said it is better to file MFS over MFJ and you want them to show you the special MFJ vs. MFS screen that shows this information.  They can do this rather quickly.  This assumes you both did indeed file MFS in 2005.  If either of you filed as Single or as HOH and you were not legally single or HOH, you need to do what I said earlier and file an amended return.  H&R will do this for free and pay any penalties and interest if it was their mistake.  If you clearly informed the preparer that you were married and did not live apart for the 2nd half of the year, then either the tax preparer is really dumb or they intentionally filed an incorrect tax return.  If you never told them you were married, you still need to file the amended return, but now you are responsible for the penalties and interest (if any) to amend the return.  \n\nBottom line, if you are married, it is very rare (especially with kids) to be better off filing MFS rather than MFJ.\n\nAs far as claiming someone, if you are married and file MFJ, you automatically get each other's exemption and should not claim each other as dependents.  If you file separate returns, one of you will claim the child as a dependent and the other will claim no one as a dependent.
9627
That depends on the amount of the gain, your overall tax bracket, the amount of tax already paid for the year, etc., etc. The best strategy is to use a tax planning tool and put all the information in for the year including your filing status (single, married joint, married separate, etc), wages, tax withheld, whether or not you have mortgage interest or property taxes, interest and dividends as well as the capital gains. IF you come up short, you should pay Federal and state estimated taxes. If not, no reason to do so. You could be hit with a small estimated tax penalty which is basically equal to the amount of interest due on the amount of the underpayment if you come up significantly short.
165841
Not Exactly, you can file separate or you can file joint but you will need to file a form called injured spouse form. That lets IRS know that you were not responsible for his past and (if he owes back taxes) they can only take the portion of the return that is his percentage! I had to do this for five years, because I had back taxes from previous marriage! You have to mail it in and your return will take about 4 months to be processed!! Its a pain but you are not responsible and should not be penalized for something you had no control over!! Hope this helps! Good Luck!\n\nP.S. You can do the form yourself, but its very hard to understand. Places like H&R Block (not a plug,don't work fot them!) can do it easily, but for a fee. There are programs you can use that can probably do it, but I haven't tried them.
394525
Good for her!!  And tell her to get a good tax accountant to help her file quarterly from now on.  What she pays the accountant will be worth every penny for the problems she will avoid.
126072
You don't have to mail one, but you have to enter the information off it in your tax return. The data fields should be the same on all copies, so just use one of those. The IRS already has all the data you got - your employer sent them a copy too. The easy way to do it is to e-file. Then you don't have to send in anything (except money, if you owe).
54354
You have to file last years taxes and this year's taxes.  Unfortunately they won't be able to process this year's by e-file because you didn't do last years.  You have to file the paperway, but if you do it early like by this weekend, you could probably see a refund by early april.  They don't usually charge a fine for filing late but they won't pay interest either if they owe you money.
36533
I filed anyway one year, when I only made like $6,000-$7,000 and I got back over $600. I was very surprised. You might do it online for kicks just to see if you have anything coming to you. If not just leave it unfiled. Good luck !
387799
Absolutely, if you are married, you can always file "married filing jointly," regardless of where you live or if you're seperated. There are no legal or tax problems with filing this way, so you don't have to be worried. \n\nUsually, people who are seperated want to file "married filing seperately" because they can't stand one another. Unfortunately for them, they can only possibly file seperately if they have lived in seperate residences for at least one full year.
608529
yes you do. go to IRS.GOV and in the keywords enter 940 and 941 instructions. It said that you still have to file even if you have no taxes withheld unless you are filing a final return. I hope this helps you!
225894
lol, I'm with Teri. I would say contact a tax professional in the state that he will be filing and they should have those answers, as state tax laws vary state to state. Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance. :)
66569
Do you need to file an amended return, or did you not file 2003 taxes at all?\n\nI don't think any of the tax preparation web sites will do any tax year other than the present.  They may help you with an amended return.\n\nYour best bet is to read what to do if you must file a late return.  Here's the info from the IRS:
73688
Definitely file now. Get it over with and put the past behind you.
161753
go to http://www.irs.gov and search for "extension," then file the extension form ASAP. The form's instructions talk about being outside the US and how that affects things. You should have filed the extension before April 17th, tho.
95585
When you file an extension, it doesn't give you more time to pay any taxes you owe.  The IRS rules say that you have to pay any money you owe with the request for an extension.\n\nAll the extension does it to give you more time to complete and file your return.\n\nIf you need time to pay what you owe, you should call the IRS **immediately** and arrange a payment plan.  If you wait, you will just have to pay more penalties.\n\nThe number is 1-800-829-1040.
431556
It's not easy is it?  Can have a great couple of months followed by a real dry period.  The way I work it is take my highest four months of expenses including my quarterly taxes.  On my good months I stock away four months of expenses.  So when I do get into a low selling period I'm good to go.  Keep a serperate account for the fun things in life and don't touch that other account unless no money is coming in to the house hold.
200926
Definitely call them.  Just because it is their fault they were late processing, they will still get ya for whatever they can think of.  Just like the IRS - they will come back years later finding a mistake on your tax return and they have the Ba l l s to stick you with late fees and interest for all the time it took them to object.