How far back can we e-file?

[Catherine]

Is it 2018 and later years?  (for original returns; got a non-filer case)

[Lion EA]

3 open years, so 2019, 2020, and 2021.

[Catherine]

18 hours ago, Lion EA said:

3 open years, so 2019, 2020, and 2021.

I was afraid of that.  Thanks, Lion.  

[Lion EA]

Yeah, 2018 has to be mailed.

[KATHERINE]

I have a question:  if client decides to file 2014 through out to now and report schedule C income, can he claim social security for those year even those year  were old and he may not have much documents to support the income and expenses?  Thank you all.

[Lion EA]

The SSA has their own time limits on including back payments on the tax payer's SS account. Check their website, but I think after three years the contributions are lost.

[BulldogTom]

1 hour ago, KATHERINE said:

I have a question:  if client decides to file 2014 through out to now and report schedule C income, can he claim social security for those year even those year  were old and he may not have much documents to support the income and expenses?  Thank you all.

 

22 minutes ago, Lion EA said:

The SSA has their own time limits on including back payments on the tax payer's SS account. Check their website, but I think after three years the contributions are lost.

Just looked it up.   3 years, 3 months and 15 days from the end of the calendar year (April 15th of the fourth year).  After that it is lost.   

In your client's case, only 2019 and later will be added to their SS record.

I learned something new today, I assumed you would get that credit as long as you filed the returns before you filed for SS benefits.   Thanks for the post.

Tom
Longview, TX

[Lion EA]

Thanks for looking that up. (I'm in the midst of an S-corporation dealing with a SEP.)

[KATHERINE]

18 hours ago, BulldogTom said:

 

Just looked it up.   3 years, 3 months and 15 days from the end of the calendar year (April 15th of the fourth year).  After that it is lost.   

In your client's case, only 2019 and later will be added to their SS record.

I learned something new today, I assumed you would get that credit as long as you filed the returns before you filed for SS benefits.   Thanks for the post.

Tom
Longview, TX

Thank you all so much!   

[Hahn1040]

That is very interesting to me to see.

About two years ago, my brother realized that his record for 1992 was missing a W-2.  He sent them a copy of the W-2 and it has been added to his record.  This matters a lot to him because he was worked overseas most of his adult life and has not paid into Social Security so a W-2 for $20,000 in 1992 makes a significant difference in his record.  I wonder what the difference is?

[BulldogTom]

1 hour ago, Hahn1040 said:

  I wonder what the difference is?

I would guess that because it was W2 income rather than SE income and it was not your brother's responsibility to report it to the SSA.

Tom
Longview, TX