Audits only apply to a filed return. Sign on the dotted line and they can audit that return almost in perpetuity. However, when a return is not filed there is another process that takes over. I know because I was involved in a tax revolt back in the seventies. It did not go well for most involved. I was one of the few lucky ones.

It was fairly easy back in the seventies to claim on a W-4 enough exemptions to not have any federal withholding. The employer had to honor it. Now it is different - the IRS clamped down. After not filing a return you will get the usual letters from the IRS, some time later, that you have not filed your return and will be assessed a fine for late file, the interest, blah blah. There is not a whole lot of contact with them for several years. It is easy to think that nothing is happening - but it is.

The statute of limitations on a no-file return is 3 years. At almost the 3 year point the IRS assesses what taxes they think you owe based on the information they have. After they assess the return and determine the money they think you owe they then start the process of collections. In the seventies and eighties there was a 6 year statute of limitations on collections of assessed monies owed. After the 6 years, the collections have to stop unless you have agreed to some payment plan with the IRS which at that point you will pay till they get their money even after you die. On a joint return, they can come after both spouses. Because of previous tax revolts, the IRS has extended that time to 10 years on collections. That is a long time to run from the IRS.

Once an assessed amount is levied by the IRS, including fines and interest, the amount owed can balloon to thousands. I figured I owed originally about $600. By the time the IRS started collections the bill had blown up to $28K in just 3 years. The IRS will not arrest you, but they can sure make your life miserable. They can garnish your wages, clean out your bank account, ruin your credit, and other things. In addition, a bankruptcy will not clear an IRS debt. I was lucky because I was in college at the time and was able to ride out the statute. The sad part were the others I knew that also decided to revolt and the heavy hand of the IRS reached deep into their pockets. So, it may sound like a good thing to do, but think carefully and understand how the process works before taking the leap. Make sure there is water in the pool before you jump. Until the IRS itself is either abolished or revamped, not paying taxes may not be a prudent move.

Audits only apply to a filed return. Sign on the dotted line and they can audit that return almost in perpetuity. However, when a return is not filed there is another process that takes over. I know because I was involved in a tax revolt back in the seventies. It did not go well for most involved. I was one of the few lucky ones.

It was fairly easy back in the seventies to claim on a W-4 enough exemptions to not have any federal withholding. The employer had to honor it. Now it is different - the IRS clamped down. After not filing a return you will get the usual letters from the IRS, some time later, that you have not filed your return and will be assessed a fine for late file, the interest, blah blah. There is not a whole lot of contact with them for several years. It is easy to think that nothing is happening - but it is.

The statute of limitations on a no-file return is 3 years. At almost the 3 year point the IRS assesses what taxes they think you owe based on the information they have. After they assess the return and determine the money they think you owe they then start the process of collections. In the seventies and eighties there was a 6 year statute of limitations on collections of assessed monies owed. After the 6 years, the collections have to stop unless you have agreed to some payment plan with the IRS which at that point you will pay till they get their money even after you die. On a joint return, they can come after both spouses. Because of previous tax revolts, the IRS has extended that time to 10 years on collections. That is a long time to run from the IRS.

Once an assessed amount is levied by the IRS, including fines and interest, the amount owed can balloon to thousands. I figured I owed originally about $600. By the time the IRS started collections the bill had blown up to $28K in just 3 years. The IRS will not arrest you, but they can sure make your life miserable. They can garnish your wages, clean out your bank account, ruin your credit, and other things. In addition, a bankruptcy will not clear an IRS debt. I was lucky because I was in college at the time and was able to ride out the statute. The sad part were the others I knew that also decided to revolt and the heavy hand of the IRS reached deep into their pockets. So, it may sound like a good thing to do, but think carefully and understand how the process works before taking the leap. Make sure there is water in the pool before you jump.

Audits only apply to a filed return. Sign on the dotted line and they can audit that return almost in perpetuity. However, when a return is not filed there is another process that takes over. I know because I was involved in a tax revolt back in the seventies. It did not go well for most involved. I was one of the few lucky ones.

It was fairly easy back in the seventies to claim on a W-4 enough exemptions to not have any federal withholding. The employer had to honor it. Now it is different - the IRS clamped down. After not filing a return you will get the usual letters from the IRS, some time later, that you have not filed your return and will be assessed a fine for late file, the interest, blah blah. There is not a whole lot of contact with them for several years. It is easy to think that nothing is happening - but it is.

The statute of limitations on a no-file return is 3 years. At almost the 3 year point the IRS assesses what taxes they think you owe based on the information they have. After they assess the return and determine the money they think you owe they then start the process of collections. In the seventies and eighties there was a 6 year statute of limitations on collections of assessed monies owed. After the 6 years, the collections have to stop unless you have agreed to some payment plan with the IRS which at that point you will pay till they get their money even after you die. On a joint return, they can come after both spouses. Because of previous tax revolts, the IRS has extended that time to 10 years on collections. That is a long time to run from the IRS.

Once an assessed amount is levied by the IRS, including fines and interest, the amount owed can balloon to thousands. I figured I owed originally about $600. By the time the IRS started collections the bill had blown up to $28K in just 3 years. The IRS will not arrest you, but they can sure make your life miserable. They can garnish your wages, clean out your bank account, ruin your credit, and other things. In addition, a bankruptcy will not clear an IRS debt. I was lucky because I was in college at the time and was able to ride out the statute. The sad part was the others I knew that also decided to revolt and the heavy hand of the IRS reached deep into their pockets. So, it may sound like a good thing to do, but think carefully and understand how the process works before taking the leap. Make sure there is water in the pool before you jump.

Audits only apply to a filed return. Sign on the dotted line and they can audit that return almost in perpetuity. However, when a return is not filed there is another process that takes over. I know because I was involved in a tax revolt back in the seventies. It did not go well for most involved. I was one of the few lucky ones.

It was fairly easy back in the seventies to claim on a W-4 enough exemptions to not have any federal withholding. The employer had to honor it. Now it is different - the IRS clamped down. After not filing a return you will get the usual letters from the IRS, some time later, that you have not filed your return and will be assessed a fine for late file, the interest, blah blah. There is not a whole lot of contact with them for several years. It is easy to think that nothing is happening - but it is.

The statute of limitations on a no-file return is 3 years. At almost the 3 year point the IRS assesses what taxes they think you owe based on the information they have. After they assess the return and determine the money they think you owe they then start the process of collections. In the seventies and eighties there was a 6 year statute of limitations on collections of assessed monies owed. After the 6 years, the collections have to stop unless you have agreed to some payment plan with the IRS. At that point you will pay till they get their money. Now the IRS has extended that time to 10 years to collect. That is a long time to run from the IRS.

Once an assessed amount is levied by the IRS, including fines and interest, the amount owed can balloon to thousands. I figured I owed originally about $600. By the time the IRS started collections the bill had blown up to $28K in just 3 years. The IRS will not arrest you, but they can sure make your life miserable. They can garnish your wages, clean out your bank account, and other things. I was lucky because I was in college at the time and was able to ride out the statute. The sad part was the others I knew that also decided to revolt and the heavy hand of the IRS reached deep into their pockets. So, it may sound like a good thing to do, but think carefully and understand how the process works before taking the leap. Make sure there is water in the pool before you jump.