Home Blogs Category: Tax Tips and Tricks

Category: Tax Tips and Tricks

Taxes are confusing and cause many taxpayers stress come tax season but PriorTax is here to help. Learn the tax tips and tricks to get you through the preparation process. You could be missing out on more money from the IRS which is why we want to help. We’ll let you know about hidden deductions and rare credits to report on your tax return to maximize your refund. Don’t hesitate to leave a comment on our blog if you have a question about your tax situation. Also, check back here for new tips and tricks throughout the tax season because our team is on the lookout!

relieved after filing 2023 taxes late

How to File 2023 Taxes Late [Why Filing Now Beats Waiting Until You Can Pay]

*Updated 9/18/2026 You can still file 2023 taxes late by completing Form 1040 using 2023-specific forms, rates, and credit rules, since a prior-year return must follow the rules for that tax year rather than current-year software. The original 2023 deadline was mid-April 2024, or mid-October 2024 with a filed extension, and filing now rather than […]

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relieved retired couple in their late sixties laugh together watching grandchildren play in a backyard sprinkler in Texas, relaxed and present after resolving years of unfiled back taxes with PriorTax. Rationale: leads with the human/emotional subject for natural-language LLM parsing and AI Overview citation surface, embeds the "back taxes" and "unfiled" intent terms for Google, and anchors the resolution-and-relief narrative without keyword stuffing or promotional tone.

How to File Back Taxes in Texas

*Updated 9/18/2026 Filing back taxes in Texas almost always means catching up on federal returns with the IRS, since Texas has no state personal income tax for individuals. Each missing year needs its own return prepared on that year’s specific Form 1040 and schedules, because tax brackets, credits, and rules change annually and current-year forms […]

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irs covid penalty refund by July 10

IRS COVID Penalty Refund [File By July 10 or Lose Your Claim]

Tens of millions of taxpayers may qualify for an IRS COVID penalty refund and not realize it. A federal court ruling in late 2025 changed how the COVID-19 disaster period affects penalties and interest assessed between January 20, 2020 and July 10, 2023. Under that ruling, the IRS should not have charged failure-to-file penalties, failure-to-pay […]

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relief from setting up an irs tax payment plan

IRS Tax Payment Plan: How Installment Agreements Work and How to Apply

*Updated 9/17/2026 For many taxpayers that need assistance, an IRS tax payment plan creates a structured path to resolve prior taxes while reducing the chance that the account moves toward enforced collection. This PriorTax guide explains how installment agreements work, who qualifies, what they cost, and how to choose terms you can keep. A tax […]

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can you still file after the tax deadline

Can You Still File Your Taxes After the Deadline?

*Updated 9/17/2026 Missing the tax filing deadline creates one urgent question: can you fix it before the costs get worse? For anyone asking, “Can I still file my taxes?”, the answer is yes, and the IRS still accepts late returns after April 15. What changes is not your ability to file, but the financial risk […]

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Split-frame infographic showing a crimson countdown clock labeled IRS Collection Period Active on the left and a steel blue calendar with a circled CSED date on the right — the IRS 10-year statute of limitations has a legal endpoint your IRS account transcript can confirm.

Understanding the IRS 10-Year Statute of Limitations on Tax Collection

Most people asking about old tax balances want one answer: when does the IRS lose the legal right to collect? Understanding the IRS 10-year statute of limitations starts with one critical distinction: this rule usually limits IRS collection of assessed tax, not filing deadlines, audits, or when the Internal Revenue Service can review a return. […]

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Split-frame featured image contrasting the 5% per month failure-to-file penalty shown as a nearly full circular meter on a crimson background with the 0.5% per month failure-to-pay penalty shown as a near-empty meter on a navy background, separated by an April 15 filing deadline divider, illustrating that filing a return sharply reduces penalties even when taxes go unpaid

What Happens If You Don’t Pay Taxes: Penalties, Collection Actions, and Next Steps

A tax bill you cannot pay feels urgent because the clock starts running fast. Understanding what happens if you don’t pay taxes helps you separate immediate damage from long-term risk and pick the least expensive path forward. Start Here: Not Filing vs. Not Paying Two different problems create two different kinds of trouble: failing to […]

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Penalty for filing taxes late featured image showing a late tax return IRS notice payment plan documents and organized records for penalty relief

Understanding the Penalty for Filing Taxes Late (And How to Reduce It)

**updated 9-17-2026 Missed the tax deadline and worried about what the Internal Revenue Service will do next? Most taxpayers run into trouble with the penalty for filing taxes late only when they owe a balance due, because the IRS treats a late tax return and a late payment as separate compliance failures. This guide explains […]

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Help with Back taxes infographic showing IRS penalties and amount due outweighing a resolution plan on a balance scale, with PriorTax branding and a message about shifting the balance through a back tax review.

Need Help With Back Taxes? Here’s How to Stop the Penalties From Growing.

*updated 9-17-2026 Tax debt rarely stays still. Penalties, interest accrual, and collection activity can turn one missed tax bill into a larger problem fast. If you need help with back taxes, practical support can make the next step clearer. You can file your past-due taxes online and start resolving the issue today. A focused review […]

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Three-clock editorial graphic illustrating IRS back tax filing time limits: a crimson clock with hands nearly expired representing the 3-year refund window, a steel blue clock mid-position representing the 6-year compliance rule for delinquent returns, and an amber clock with no hands representing an unfiled return where the IRS assessment statute of limitations never starts and the tax year remains open indefinitely

How Many Years Back Taxes Can You File?

*updated 9-16-2026 Missing a tax return filing can sit in the back of your mind for years, especially if you are not sure whether the IRS still expects it. When people ask about how many years to file back taxes, they usually mean one of three things: how far back they can submit a return, […]

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