Common tax questions, answered

I owe the IRS and can't pay it all. What can I do?

File on time even if you can't pay, because the penalty for not filing is much bigger than the penalty for paying late. Then pay what you can and set up a payment plan:

• Short-term plan: up to 180 days if you owe less than $100,000 in tax, penalties and interest. No setup fee.
• Long-term plan (monthly payments): if you owe $50,000 or less and have filed all required returns, you can apply online. The setup fee is lower with automatic debit and can be waived for low-income filers.

Penalties and interest keep adding up until the balance is paid. If you've received a collection notice, see Got a letter from the IRS? Not sure what fits your situation? Call us at (832) 786-8311.

The IRS wants me to verify my identity. Is it real?

Letters like 5071C mean a return was filed with your Social Security number and the IRS is holding it until you confirm it's yours. Verify only through irs.gov/verifyreturn or the phone number on the notice, never through a link in a text or email. Have the letter, the return and your W-2s or 1099s handy. If you didn't file that return, tell the IRS during verification.

Not sure what fits your situation? Call us at (832) 786-8311.

Someone filed a return using my Social Security number. What now?

If your e-filed return is rejected because your SSN was already used, file a paper return and attach Form 14039, the Identity Theft Affidavit, unless the IRS tells you otherwise. Then get an Identity Protection PIN: a six-digit number, new each year, that stops anyone else from filing with your SSN. Anyone with an SSN or ITIN who can verify their identity can get one in their IRS Online Account.

Not sure what fits your situation? Call us at (832) 786-8311.

I didn't get my W-2 or 1099, or it's wrong.

1. Ask your employer or payer for the form or a corrected one. W-2s are due to you by early February.
2. If you still don't have it by the end of February, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. The IRS contacts the employer and mails you Form 4852.
3. As a last resort, file on time with Form 4852, using your final pay stub to estimate wages and withholding. If the real form later shows different numbers, file an amended return.

Your IRS Online Account may also show the wage information employers reported. Gig workers can see 1099 and gig work taxes. Not sure what fits your situation? Call us at (832) 786-8311.

How do I fix a return I already filed?

File Form 1040-X, the amended return. You can e-file it for the current year and the two prior years; older years are filed on paper. To claim a refund, you generally have 3 years from when you filed the original return or 2 years from when you paid the tax, whichever is later. If you're expecting a refund on the original, it's usually best to wait until it arrives.

Track it with Where's My Amended Return about 3 weeks after you submit it. Processing usually takes 8 to 12 weeks and can take up to 16. For a first return, see Where's my refund? Not sure what fits your situation? Call us at (832) 786-8311.

How do I get a copy of an old return or a transcript?

• Transcripts are free. Download them right away in your IRS Online Account or with Get Transcript Online, or order them by mail. A tax return transcript usually works for loans and financial aid applications.
• An exact copy of a return you filed can be ordered with Form 4506, for a fee.
• Returns we prepared: we keep copies and can send them to you.

Not sure what fits your situation? Call us at (832) 786-8311.

Which filing status and credits are right for me?

Start with Filing status and dependents, then the Earned Income Credit and Child Tax Credit guides. If you work for yourself, see quarterly estimated taxes. Not sure what fits your situation? Call us at (832) 786-8311.