Contributed by: Henry, FreeTaxUSA Agent, Tax Pro and AndyS, FreeTaxUSA Agent, Tax Pro
Did a major life event prevent you from filing your 2020 tax return on time? Were you missing important documentation? Or maybe you simply procrastinated and forgot to file. Whatever the reason, if you missed the 2020 filing deadline, it’s not too late—you can still get your return filed.
FreeTaxUSA can help!
FreeTaxUSA supports 2020 tax return preparation, and we’re here to guide you through the filing process. To access the 2020 FreeTaxUSA software, simply go to our homepage and select Prior Year > All years 2017-2023. Then you’ll be prompted to choose the year you want to file.
Once you sign in, you’ll see the year listed in the top left corner of the screen next to our logo, so you can always be sure you’re accessing the software for the appropriate year.
Filing considerations
- Personal information: You’ll generally want to answer the questions as they apply to your situation in 2020. However, when entering your address, be sure to enter your current address (even if that’s not where you lived in 2020). The address you enter is the one the IRS will use to communicate with you about your tax return, if needed.
- Income: If you’re missing a 2020 income form, such as a W-2 or 1099, it’s best to contact the form issuer and request another copy. If that’s not possible, you may be able to request a 2020 wage and income transcript from the IRS.
- Deductions and credits: The records you’ve kept for 2020 will determine which deductions or credits you’re eligible to claim. You might have received a tax form--such as Form 1098, which reports mortgage interest. You may also have saved receipts, records, mileage logs, or statements for things like charitable donations, childcare expenses, property taxes, health savings account information, retirement contributions, education expenses for college students, K-12 educator expenses, home energy upgrades, business use of your vehicle, etc. If you don’t have proof of an expense, you may not want to claim it.
- E-file or mail: E-file is no longer available for 2020 tax returns; the IRS requires them to be submitted by mail. FreeTaxUSA makes this process as simple as possible. Mailing instructions will be provided at the end of the Filing section on the Check Status/Print Tax Return screen.
Time is of the essence
You’ll want to get your 2020 tax return completed as soon as you can. Doing so keeps you in good standing with the IRS, prevents the IRS from filing a substitute return on your behalf, avoids delays when applying for a loan or federal aid, and allows you to report self-employment income (if any) to the Social Security Administration so you can receive credit toward retirement benefits.
Perhaps most critical are the immediate financial repercussions:
- If you owe taxes for 2020, you may be subject to a failure-to-file penalty, a failure-to-pay penalty, and interest on unpaid taxes and penalties. Filing your tax return stops the failure-to-file penalty from accruing—which is the steeper of the two penalties—so it’s a good idea to file even if you can’t pay the full amount owed. The IRS will determine if you’re subject to penalties after they process your 2020 tax return. They’ll send a letter in the mail notifying you of any additional amount owed. Then you may either pay the full amount or pay what you can and set up a payment plan with the IRS for the rest.
- You typically won’t face a late fee or penalty if you’re owed a refund. However, you generally only have three years to claim it. The three-year countdown begins either on the original due date of the return or on the extended due date, if an extension was filed. For example, if your 2020 tax return was due by May 17, 2021, then you likely had until May 17, 2024, to claim a 2020 refund. At this point, you may be too late to receive a refund, but it could still be worthwhile to file your 2020 return to take advantage of the other benefits associated with filing.
Don’t delay—take the necessary steps today to get your 2020 tax return filed! FreeTaxUSA is here to support you through the process. Reach out to our support team if additional questions come up while filing.