I haven't filed taxes in 4 years, what do I need to do to "get right" with the IRS?

call an H&R Block office. Ask to speak with a Tax Advisor. Check to see that the person you are talking to has been doing the job for at least 5 years. Then make an appointment to go in and have all those years done now. Soome years will be ineligible for any refund you might be due, but you'll have to pay if you owe. The penalties for not filing are higher than the penalties for not paying, so the sooner you file, the better off you're going to be.

As for the paperwork that got lost or ruined: You'll either need to get reissued copies from the company that issued them, or get a copy of your transcript for those years from the IRS. You can get a transcript by claling the IRS and asking for the proper form, or by downloading, printing and mailing form 4506T. The transcript is free, and will show the information that the IRS has, including the information on the 1099 and any W2's you might have had. Also, feel free to e-mail if you have more questions. I've dealt with this more than once and am happy to give suggestions (no charge from the Y!A site - I do not solicit business for myself here!)

Don't panic, be polite and calm. Get an attorney to help make an offer to pay. They have cleaned up their act considerably since the eighties and seem to recognize there are limits to how hard they can push the taxpayers so now it is our turn to tone it down and try to make the system work. I speak from experience here. My wife and I had a small business that went under. In the process we managed to wind up shorting the IRS a considerable sum of money. So far with the exception of one officer, they have been quite restrained and polite and we have been trying to pay them what we owe, although it looks like they may be willing to call it good at less than that, wonder of wonders. In other words, keep'm holstered. Things have gotten better. I still support Ron Paul and his effort to abolish the IRS, not because they are pushing us into revolution but because the system has become unworkable. Even if you file with the best advice and intentions, the odds you actually are paying what you owe are very slim, because the system is simply too complex for any one to understand, even officers of the IRS. Its the accounting equivalent of solving the ten simultaneous equations Einstein and the other physicists are playing with.

If you have a copy of the last return you filed take it along when you have the delinquent returns prepared. This will provide a good idea of what your profit margin is. Get on the ball now to get things done in January because when Feb 1 rolls around preparers are going to be working 25 hours a day on 2007 returns. You must file your 2004 return by next April 15 or you will not get social security credit for your earnings but will still owe the self-employment tax. You will owe SE tax for 2003 but will get no benefit from it.

Get whatever paperwork you have as an independent owner-operator truck driver. Estimate the rest of your income for those years, Then you have to deduct your expenses to arrive at the net income, Have the tax figured out and make arrangements with the IRS for a payment schedule. Do plenty of work on those figures before you contact the IRS because you may have a considerable liability.

You'll have to track down the 1099 info. If you still have your own records, that will be enough - otherwise see if the companies can give you copies - if you can't get the copies that way, call the IRS and ask for copies. Then you'll need to file the returns. If you owe for those years, you'll be charged penalties and interest.

Go to a tax preparer or accountant and have them file the appropriate forms and paperwork. And good for you in wanting to fix your mistake. You'll be better for it in the long run and won't have to pay near what you may have had you just waited for them to find you. Good luck!

PS Tax preparer doesn't have to be a "name brand" like H & R Block. Alot of small businesses are nicer to deal with. We went to a small, local accountant years ago when my husband had to file state taxes for two different states and we have been with him ever since.

When searching for a preparer, tell them you were owner-operator and consider enrolled agents (people who have passed a tax-oriented licensing test).

Do find as many of your receipts as possible. It's hard, but possible for your preparer to low-ball and estimate the missing returns if they have *anything* to work with.

Ugmo.

I'd say it's tax attorney time. Shop around; there are plenty who specialize in these kinds of situations, and you want a reputable one.

Good luck.

File your taxes.

Hire an attorney