Is it true that if youve never filed a tax return you never have to?

yes this is true and the penalties would be you lose your extra taxes so whats the difference if you dont owe or you had plenty taken out and never filed is what im askin if the rule exist or is a myth?and i mean never filed in your lifetime?

wow are government really is set up to hurt us in the end yikes

ok lets say that you were owed a refund of $500 from the goverment. Off the top of my head I am not sure what the current penalty is. but anyway it was 1997 when you started working. They would charge you just for giggles $2000 a year starting that year by 2007 you would owe the goverment approx over 20,500. I know the interest rate for business is 1.5 percent. I believe it is higher for individuals. but now also that number would be offset if you could prove that you were suppose to get the $500 but only for that amount. So it would be a slightly slower. Unfortunatly there is no way to get around filing taxes. Exspecially since the city and the state taxes are different everywhere and you might owe them money also.

could it be a little known fact but when you have a good income you want to get taxes back so you start filing not knowing this?

well thanx i wonder where this idea originated its fun finding out about this and going totell my friends the results so far

Actually no. I do accounting for a living and trust me if I could have my kids get away with it I would. The goverment wants to gain interest off your money and be able to use it. They track you from the moment your employer enters your ss into the system. It would be a heck of a penatly and they will go back forever to get back what is owed to them plus penalties and interest on the money. Even if they would have owed you a refund. Then you will end up paying then instead of ever getting the refund because of the penalties.

that what the consensus is so far thank you luv

well the government automaticly gets it if you dont ask for them back right,and you have taxes taken out of your wages,so the only one that would lose is the person not askin for a return ?

what if you never filed in your lifetime im saying?

If you've held a job and filed a W4 or received a W2 the government will know you earned income. Maybe you can get away without them noticing you, but when they do you'll have to pay all your back taxes, plus penalty and interest. And you may have to do it from jail.

I think I'm going to jump in here, just in case anyone, like I have just done, ever stumbles upon this post and is looking for correct information. First things first, filing your income tax return is a choice. Now, that doesn't mean you haven't paid your taxes. Most of the time, your taxes are getting taken out of your check regardless. You not filing is just you not getting the money back from having paid those taxes. I think, from what I've read on here, that people are getting FILING FOR A RETURN and PAYING your taxes mixed up. Now, with that said, no, it is not law that you file, nor is it law that you pay federal income taxes. Should you so chose, you can remove all allowances from your check. However, should you do that, and then file, you will be found to owe money. If not, more than likely, you will get a large amount of the taxes you have paid over the course of that year back. But, again, all of this is a choice. I don't know who runs this site, but please, always remember, nothing on the internet has to be censored, or fact checked. You were getting a lot of wrong information here.

iheard this in a disscusion that if youve never filed a tax return you never have too but if you do once its for your life time and ive been trying to find out online or in tax laws if its true and havent found out the truth or denial as of yet.