The short answer
The IRS generally asks for your last six years of tax returns to bring you back into good standing. Some people need fewer, and a few need more, so the first step is pulling your IRS records to see exactly which years are missing.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Why six years?
The IRS's long-standing policy is to ask non-filers for the last six years of returns. It can ask for more in unusual cases, but most people never need to go back further than that.
Which years do you actually need?
Not every missed year has to be filed. Whether you were required to file depends on your income, filing status and age that year, plus things like self-employment income. Some years you may not have needed to file at all.
The easiest way to know is to look at what the IRS already has. Your wage and income transcripts list the W-2s and 1099s reported under your name for each year. Your account transcripts show whether a return was filed and whether the IRS made one for you.
What if the IRS already filed one for me?
If you didn't file, the IRS can create a return for you, called a substitute for return. It usually leaves out deductions and credits you may qualify for. You can still file your own return for that year.
What about money the IRS owes you?
If you overpaid for a year, the window to claim it is generally three years from that year's due date. After that, it's usually gone. That's one more reason not to wait.
What to do first
- Get your IRS transcripts, or let us pull them for you with your approval.
- Find out which years show income and no return.
- File the most recent years first, then work backward.
- If you'll owe, look at your options for paying.
Official source: IRS: Filing past due tax returns. Ready to get current? See Haven't Filed in Years?
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Disclaimer: This page is general information, not tax advice. Every situation is different, and tax rules change. Reading this page doesn't make you a client.