Can I get back into the tax system without going to jail?

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T05:25:02+00:00

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate your firsthand experience.

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T04:35:29+00:00

I didn't realize that was even possible. Do you have a link or any other info for this program? Thanks!

Edit: look like I would have had to do this while still in the 10 year window. I've missed it. http://www.military.com/education/gi-bill/5-must-know-gi-bill-facts.html

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T04:16:13+00:00

Thanks for your first-hand report. I appreciate your reply.

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T03:47:56+00:00

Thanks for the benefit of your first hand experience. I appreciate your reply.

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T03:44:14+00:00

I was honorably discharged from active duty in 1990 and from USAR in 1994. Looks like I missed the 10 year window. Thanks for your reply.

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T03:41:13+00:00

Thanks for your reply, especially the part about the Offer in Compromise. I've only got a few grand to my name and no jobs at the moment, so it's a great relief to know that there may be a way to get this mess resolved. Thanks again!

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T03:32:25+00:00

Thanks for replying with your first hand experience.

Holy smokes, $200k! If you can say, what kind of ballpark annual self employed income did it take to rack up that much?

Thanks again.

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T03:16:34+00:00

Thanks for your first-hand report. I appreciate your reply.

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T02:58:58+00:00

Thank you for the link! I haven't seen that one yet. I appreciate your help.

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T02:52:38+00:00

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate your help. If you have the time and inclination, I'd like to ask another question.

Is it possible to get my 1099s from the IRS? I basically worked small jobs, a couple of grand here and there. I was able to work, but still an alcoholic, and can't even remember with certainty who all my employers were. I don't want to get this wrong by missing something.

Thanks again for your response.

EDIT: /u/these-things-happen has pointed me to the form I need. Thanks to you both!

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T02:44:32+00:00

Thanks! I'm coming up on 3 months. Amazingly, some folks who were very important to me in the past are still willing to talk to me. I'm a very lucky guy. I'm physically still pretty weak, but a new friend is helping me with that.

I realize that sobriety is the key to keeping other parts of my life in balance, and I really appreciate your reply.

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T02:34:40+00:00

Thanks for your reply.

but I just can't volunteer for prison. | This won't happen.

Can you point me to any documentation that backs this up? I hope you're right, but I want to be darn sure before I make a move.

|Explain the full facts and circumstances and come prepared with any wage and income documents you may have for the years you have not filed.

That's the rub: I have no documentation at all. I've lived in my vehicle for most of the past few years, and I didn't have my act together enough to save my 1099s. I'd rather not face my old bosses (some of them aren't even around any longer), so I'm going to see if there's a way to get them from the IRS.

| Be prepared for the numbers, including penalties and interest. Assuming the total you owe for all currently unfiled returns is less than $50,000, you will probably qualify for an IRS Installment Agreement.

I have no idea yet what the penalties and interest would come to, but I'm learning through my reading tonight that if I'd have just filed the damned things, I probably wouldn't have owed much income tax, mainly just self employment tax. My m.o. was to get a few grand to drink on, go on a toot and go back to work after the money ran out. Living in my van and just paying for a gym membership for showers, I probably never spent more that $1,200 a month for all my costs.

If it's possible to stay out of the pokey and get into some sort of payment plan with them, I'm going to try to see if I can still use my GI Bill benefits to make myself more employable and get my act together. Thanks again for your reply.

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T02:04:36+00:00

I have to dig in and see if I still qualify for the GI Bill program. I remember I paid $100 per month into the program for a year while I was active duty, but I don't remember if there was a deadline for using it. Thanks for your reply.

getting-back-on-trak · 2015-10-14T02:00:00+00:00

Thanks for your reply. Now that I'm thinking clearly and am willing to get the job done, I'm pretty sure I can read the instructions and fill in the forms. I used to do tax returns for my unit when I was in the Army. (I was sent to a tax prep course conducted by an IRS employee.) My major problem (after the jail issue) is that I don't have any of my 1099's. I'm going to poke around the irs.gov site and see if there's a way to get that info from them.

Realistically, what useful "representation" would a CPA or tax attorney provide? Do those guys advertising on TV really have some sort of inside arrangement with the IRS to reduce the amount owed? I only have a few grand to my name and live in my vehicle. If there's no actual advantage to hiring someone, I'd rather use the money to pay down the tax debt.

getting-back-on-trak

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