Past refunds?

You can only file for a refund for years that have not exceeded the statute of limitation period of 3 years. Assuming you did not file extensions, that leaves only 2004 thru 2006 on which you could file for refund.

You can order copies of your returns from IRS by paying them a charge per page for copying.

mike

wrote

Well, you need to prepare and file returns for those years. Any closed years are just lost. You have to pay if you owe, but overpayments older than three years are not refunded. The open years are 2006, 2005 and 2004.

-- Paul A. Thomas, CPA Athens, Georgia

manicalmongoose wrote..

Call the IRS toll-free number, follow the prompts to get transcripts of your tax accounts for the past 3 or 4 years. (2003 is out of statute) 2004, 2005, 2006

Call IRS toll-free at (800) 829-1040 or visit your local walk-in office. The toll-free assistor or walk-in staff member can look up your account on the IRS computer system and quickly tell you which years were filed and which were not. There is a three-year statute of limitations for federal tax refunds. The three-year refund statute for 2003 expired for most taxpayers on April 15, 2007 (the original April 15,

2004 due date + three years) If you filed an extension for 2003, you have until three years from the extended due date to claim a refund. When you contact IRS, they can tell you the status of the 2003 year. You can download prior year tax forms at the following website: IRS will provide you with copies of your prior-year information returns, i.e., Forms W-2, 1099, etc., at no charge. Currently years 2000 - 2005 are available. In about a month, 2000 will drop off the system and 2006 will be added. If you visit your local IRS walk-in office, they can print copies of your information returns from the IRS information returns masterfile. Alternatively, you can order them with Form 4506-T. I've pasted links for both below. When and if you get around to filing your delinquent tax returns, don't forget to sign each return and enclose each in a separate envelope for filing. It might behoove you to embrace the lawful habit filing each year's tax return as it is due. Condor

You lose refunds after three years from the due date of your return so there is no need to inquire prior to 2004 unless you filed an extension for 2003. You can call (800) 829-1040 or (800) 829-8815 to ask or you can request a transcript of account by filing Form 4506-T to see credits posted to your account. You request the refunds by filing the return.

The IRS is not obligated to give you your refunds beyond three years.