The last chance to claim a 2009 Tax Refund Was April 15, 2013, but you can still file 2009 Taxes with RapidTax.
Yes, you can still file your 2009 taxes. However, the IRS has a statute of limitations that only allows you to get a refund for three years after the original due date of a return.
In other words, you can file your late 2009 tax return, but you won’t be able to claim your 2009 refund. The last day to file and get a 2009 refund was April 15, 2013. After this date, the government stopped issuing 2009 refunds, even though you’re technically still required to file a 2009 return.
If you weren’t expecting a 2009 refund and instead, have tax due, you’ll want to file your 2009 taxes as soon as possible.
IRS Statute Of Limitations
Unfortunately, though you only have three years to get a refund, the statute of limitations on the IRS collecting taxes due is ten years. So if you owe money, don’t think that you’ve successfully evaded the IRS. They still have 5 years to collect your tax due.
If you do owe the government money, you may have to pay a failure-to-file penalty, a failure-to-pay penalty, and interest. These penalties get larger for every day that your return is late, so it makes sense to file as soon as possible.
How To File 2009 Taxes Today
Many people who are late on their taxes automatically assume that they’ll be punished for it. However, if you were entitled to a refund, you won’t be facing penalties. After all, not being able to claim your refund is a punishment in itself. However, you should still file.
Unfortunately you won’t be able to e-file your 2009 return. E-file is only available between January and October for current year returns. This means that you’ll have to paper file your 2009 return.
You can still prepare your return online with RapidTax. To do so, create an account and enter your tax information. Then, we’ll do the hard work for you. After your return is prepared, you’ll simply print it out, sign, and mail it to the IRS yourself.
If you have any questions along the way, the RapidTax team is available via phone, chat and email!
Photo via Jérôme on Flickr.
I had a tax offset from Department of education,for the past 2 years.It was barely lifted .I have not filed 2011 or 2012.I was wondering if i should file 2012 first then 2011. Also in the process i found out ny nom claimed my 2 children for 2011.I know Um due a refund both years,but my question is if i send in 2011 with my children will i be audited..& slow down 2012..I have been waitung to file to catch up on bils & now I find out about my mom.
Hi Chris,
Generally it’s best to file your taxes in order, as you sometimes need information from 2011 to prepare 2012, for example. If you file a 2011 return and claim to children that have been claimed by someone else, yes it will slow down your refund. You will not be audited, necessarily, but the IRS will have to review the case and that could take some extra time. However it will not slow down your refund for 2012. The two years are not connected, the refunds are not connected, and something that slows down one should not slow down the other.
Can I still file my 2011 and 2012 now?
Hi Liz,
Yes, you can still file a 2011 and 2012 return now. You can do so right here on RapidTax. On the create an account/sign in page just select the correct year from the drop-down menu: https://www.rapidtax.com/myRapidTax/default.aspx?CreateAccount
And I mean for 2009
So even if you filed online before the deadline, but didn’t get it in the mail before that date…there is no way to get your refund?
Hi Priscilla,
You can’t file prior year returns online, you have to mail them in. And yes, if they are not postmarked by the deadline they will not be considered filed on time.
I have return that need to be sent in from 2009-2010 I do a refund but didn’t have the money at the time to pay for it if i will mail them in now will I get my refund thatw do.