Back taxes & IRS resolution
Unfiled years and unpaid balances feel bigger the longer they sit. With the facts in hand, most are resolved with a plan you can live with.
What this service is — and why it matters
People fall behind for ordinary reasons: a business year that went badly, an illness, a divorce, a move, a year that was just too much. Penalties and interest keep growing while the envelopes stay closed, and the IRS can eventually file a return for you — one that usually leaves out your deductions.
We start by getting the facts. With your authorization we pull your IRS account and income transcripts, which show exactly which years are missing, what the IRS thinks you earned, and what you owe. Then we prepare and file the missing returns, starting with the years that matter most.
Once the filing is current, we work out how to deal with any balance: a payment plan, penalty relief if you qualify, or other options where your finances support them. And we set up estimates and a filing calendar so you stay current.
Everything we handle for you
One named preparer, a second-preparer review, and year-round answers to your questions.
Transcript investigation
We pull your IRS records to see every year’s filing status, reported income, balances and pending actions.
Unfiled returns
We prepare the missing federal and state returns from your records and the IRS’s income data, claiming the deductions you’re entitled to.
Replace IRS-prepared returns
If the IRS filed a substitute return for you, we file an accurate original return to replace its estimate.
Payment arrangements
We set up an installment agreement sized to what you can realistically pay.
Penalty relief
Where you qualify — for example first-time abatement or reasonable cause — we request that penalties be removed.
Staying current
Estimated payments and a filing calendar for this year, so the problem doesn’t come back.
Want to know what this would cost for you? We’ll give you a fixed quote after a free 30-minute review.
Book a reviewThis is a good fit if…
Best for: anyone who has been avoiding the envelope. It’s fixable.
- You have one or more years of unfiled returns
- You owe a balance you can’t pay in full
- You’ve received notices about a balance due or a return the IRS prepared for you
- You’re worried about liens, levies or wage garnishment
- You want to get current before applying for a mortgage or loan
Four steps, start to finish
- Step 1
Confidential review
A no-judgment call about what’s happened. We explain the process and quote it.
- Step 2
Get the facts
We file a power of attorney and pull your transcripts to see exactly where you stand.
- Step 3
File what’s missing
We prepare and file the missing returns, most important years first.
- Step 4
Resolve the balance
We negotiate the payment plan or relief you qualify for and set you up to stay current.
What we’ll ask you for
Don’t have everything? That’s normal. Bring what you have to the review and we’ll tell you what else we need — and we can pull much of it from the IRS directly.
- Any IRS or state letters you have (unopened is fine)
- The last return you did file
- Whatever income records you have for the missing years — we can fill gaps from IRS data
- A rough picture of your current income and monthly expenses
Flat fee, quoted up front
No hourly meter. After your free review we send a fixed quote, and we tell you before doing any work outside it.
Or compare our all-in-one plans →Includes transcript investigation and resolution. Each unfiled year is prepared from $650.
Book a free reviewCommon questions
How many years do I need to file?
It depends on your situation, but the IRS generally focuses on the most recent six years for delinquent returns. We’ll confirm which years apply to you from your transcripts.
I don’t have my old records. Can you still help?
Yes. The IRS keeps records of the W-2s, 1099s and other forms reported to you, and we can pull them. For business expenses, we reconstruct what we can from bank statements.
Can you make the balance go away?
We can’t promise that, and be wary of anyone who does. What we can do is make sure the balance is correct, request penalty relief where you qualify, and set up a resolution that fits what you can actually pay.
Will the IRS come after me if I start filing?
Filing voluntarily is almost always better than waiting for the IRS to act. It stops the failure-to-file penalty from growing and puts you in a stronger position to arrange payment.
Read up first
Haven’t filed in years? How to catch up without making it worse
How far back the IRS usually expects you to go, what the penalties really cost, which refunds you can still claim, and the order to do things in.
Sep 28, 2026 · 7 min readCan’t pay what you owe? IRS payment plans and penalty relief
Owing more than you can pay is common and fixable. Here’s how IRS payment plans work, what they cost, how to get penalties removed, and what happens if you do nothing.
Sep 28, 2026 · 7 min readGot a letter from the IRS? A calm, step-by-step response plan
Most IRS letters are routine and fixable. Here’s how to read one, confirm it’s real, decode the notice number, and respond on time without making things worse.
Sep 8, 2026 · 6 min readOne firm for all of it
Talk it through with a preparer
A free 30-minute review with a CPA or enrolled agent. We look at your last return and what’s changed, answer your questions, and send a fixed quote. No obligation.