AARP Foundation Tax-Aide - Frequently Asked Questions - Computing Your...

Frequently Asked Questions Computing Your Refund or Taxes Owed

Q: I am on a payment plan with the IRS for back taxes. Will I get a tax refund when I file my tax return? A: The IRS will automatically apply your refund against any tax you owe. Any balance left over would be refunded. You should continue to make your regular installment tax payments as any refund is not considered to be a plan payment. Q: I haven't filed tax returns for the last three years. What should I do? A: Taxpayers should file all tax returns that are due, regardless of whether full payment can be made with the return. If you owe money, you should send your payment with each tax return. The IRS will bill you for interest and penalties. If you are due a refund, there will be no interest or penalties for that tax year. Please note that there is a statute of limitation for obtaining a refund. You have the later of three years from the due date of the return or two years from the date you paid the taxes to file for a refund. Q: My husband owes back child support payments to his former spouse and has been notified by the Treasury Department that he is subject to the offset program. We file jointly. How do we get the IRS to not seize my refund? A: In order to ensure that the IRS does not seize your share of any refund on a joint return, you need to complete , Injured Spouse Claim and Allocation, and attach it to your tax return. The form allows you to compute how much of any refund belongs to you, the injured spouse, and frees that amount for a refund. Q: What do I do if I can't pay the amount owed on my tax return? A: The first thing you must do is to make sure you file your tax return on a timely basis even if you can't pay anything. In this manner, you avoid any failure-to-file penalties. Prior to filing you should call the IRS at 800-829-1040 (follow the voice prompts) and discuss the options with them. If the amounts are small, the IRS will usually arrange a 120-day informal payment program. If the amount is under $25,000 and you can't pay within 120 days, you may be eligible for the Installment Payment Program. Information on all your options is available at on the IRS website.
Q: My brother died this year and I am filing his tax return. He is due a refund. How do I file his return and obtain the refund? A: As your brother's personal representative, you should complete a tax return for him. You must write the word "Deceased" across the top of the tax form, followed by the decedent's name and date of death. If you are using tax software, there is a section where you check a box that the taxpayer is deceased and enter the date of death. As you are not a surviving spouse, you must complete to obtain any refund. Lastly, sign your name in the signature box followed by the words "personal representative." Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.