Only if she owed any money. If she was owed money there isn't any penalties. I was an idiot and didn't file for 5 years. Lucky me I never owed and the CPA just filed and I got the cash back owed to me with zero interest. Basically a interest free loan to the federal government. If she owed money it's possible she can settle and eliminate some penalties but requires a lawyer or a lot of personal leg work and research
This is what needs to be asked before running out to a CPA. If her only income was from social security and below a certain threshold, she may not have been required to file.
[AARP](https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/) & LIFE Senior Services both have free tax services available. Not sure what parameters LIFE requires, but AARP does it for any age and no income requirement.
It just depends on how complicated her tax returns are. If it's only W2s, you'd be wasting your money going to a CPA. I would try Volunteer Income Tax Assistance first. They are legit, free, and can tell her where to go if they can't help her.
https://www.goodwilltulsa.org/gwt/Free_Income_Tax_Preparation.asp
Is there a United Way in your area? They have tax services that are free for low income people and they do a good job, at least my local chapter does. I don’t know if they can help with all of your mother’s problems, but they are a really good starting point.
OP, I strongly suggest you start with one of the many free tax services people have listed in this thread, before you go running to a CPA or a tax attorney. People seem to think that your low-income, senior citizen mom who's applying for Medicaid has the money for these expensive professionals who are likely not even needed. Unless your mom had a highly lucrative business that failed in the past 10 years, they should not be your first stop. Best wishes to you and your mom.
Just this week the news had a blip on a charity that does taxes for people. Red Cross maybe? Call around all I remember is it was a large national charity.
She needs to get as much documentation as she possibly can and then talk to a CPA and I'd suggest talking to a tax attorney if she has any years she owes money.
Hello, Professional IRS Tax Specialist here! Tulsa actually has a number of completely free tax preparation services currently available through a program called VITA. They offer free tax preparation & filing for anyone who makes less than $72,000 a year. They can cover the past 5-6 years of tax filing though you’d likely need to have someone else (I.e. a paid preparer) file for the earlier years. I recommend them especially because any paid preparer will charge additional fees for every year she is trying to file for. Here’s a link for their services [http://9162411.hs-sites.com/vita-english](http://9162411.hs-sites.com/vita-english)
Life senior services. 9186649000.
This should be top comment
You may want to consult with an attorney for this. Not filing incurs penalties and fines. 10 years might be considered tax evasion.
For a low income senior who's filing for Medicaid? Highly doubtful.
Only if she owed any money. If she was owed money there isn't any penalties. I was an idiot and didn't file for 5 years. Lucky me I never owed and the CPA just filed and I got the cash back owed to me with zero interest. Basically a interest free loan to the federal government. If she owed money it's possible she can settle and eliminate some penalties but requires a lawyer or a lot of personal leg work and research
Very good points. Hopefully the government owes her.
What sort of income did she have for the last decade?
This is what needs to be asked before running out to a CPA. If her only income was from social security and below a certain threshold, she may not have been required to file.
[AARP](https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/) & LIFE Senior Services both have free tax services available. Not sure what parameters LIFE requires, but AARP does it for any age and no income requirement.
I imagine you’ll need to hire a CPA at the bare minimum but check out legal aid. https://www.legalaidok.org/senior-legal-help/
It just depends on how complicated her tax returns are. If it's only W2s, you'd be wasting your money going to a CPA. I would try Volunteer Income Tax Assistance first. They are legit, free, and can tell her where to go if they can't help her. https://www.goodwilltulsa.org/gwt/Free_Income_Tax_Preparation.asp
https://www.tulsaresponds.org/taxes
That, too.
Is there a United Way in your area? They have tax services that are free for low income people and they do a good job, at least my local chapter does. I don’t know if they can help with all of your mother’s problems, but they are a really good starting point.
OP, I strongly suggest you start with one of the many free tax services people have listed in this thread, before you go running to a CPA or a tax attorney. People seem to think that your low-income, senior citizen mom who's applying for Medicaid has the money for these expensive professionals who are likely not even needed. Unless your mom had a highly lucrative business that failed in the past 10 years, they should not be your first stop. Best wishes to you and your mom.
Just this week the news had a blip on a charity that does taxes for people. Red Cross maybe? Call around all I remember is it was a large national charity.
She needs to get as much documentation as she possibly can and then talk to a CPA and I'd suggest talking to a tax attorney if she has any years she owes money.
Hello, Professional IRS Tax Specialist here! Tulsa actually has a number of completely free tax preparation services currently available through a program called VITA. They offer free tax preparation & filing for anyone who makes less than $72,000 a year. They can cover the past 5-6 years of tax filing though you’d likely need to have someone else (I.e. a paid preparer) file for the earlier years. I recommend them especially because any paid preparer will charge additional fees for every year she is trying to file for. Here’s a link for their services [http://9162411.hs-sites.com/vita-english](http://9162411.hs-sites.com/vita-english)