File Back Taxes in Memphis TN
No Judgment, Maximum Recovery
Years of Unfiled Returns? We Can Help You Recover Thousands
At TaxShield Service, we help you file back taxes in Memphis, TN.
You stopped filing because life got complicated. Maybe a job change, a divorce, a medical crisis, a year where everything fell apart. Maybe you were afraid of what you’d owe. Maybe you just kept putting it off, and the years piled up.
Whatever the reason, there is no judgment here. Just potentially $8,000, $15,000, or even $40,000 in unclaimed tax refunds sitting with the IRS, with a hard deadline on how long you can claim them. TaxShield has helped hundreds of Memphis families recover years of unclaimed refunds and get back on solid financial ground.
The First Thing You Need to Know: You're Probably Not In As Much Trouble As You Think
If the IRS owes you money:
- They are not actively pursuing you
- They are simply holding your refund
- You have up to 3 years from the original deadline to claim it
- After 3 years, they keep it permanently, no exceptions
If you owe the IRS money:
- Interest and penalties are accumulating: the longer you wait, the worse it gets
- The IRS may file a substitute return on your behalf, almost always at the highest possible rate
- Coming forward voluntarily significantly reduces penalties
- Payment plans are available and widely used
Whether you’re owed money or owe money, filing now is always better than waiting longer.
How Much Could You Actually Recover?
Below are estimates of the amount you would recover in different situations:
Situation | Typical Recovery |
W-2 employee, 1-2 unfiled years | $2,000 – $8,000 |
EITC eligible, 1-3 unfiled years | $3,000 – $15,000 |
Self-employed with expenses, 2-3 years | $5,000 – $20,000 |
Multiple dependents, 3 unfiled years | $8,000 – $25,000 |
Mixed income sources, 3+ years | $10,000 – $40,000 |
⚠️ THE APRIL 15, 2026, DEADLINE: As of 26 Feb 2026, you can still claim your 2022 refund. But on April 15, 2026, any money the IRS owes you from 2022 legally expires and becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury. If you haven’t filed for 2022, you have less than 60 days to claim that check before it’s gone forever.
Credits People Forget (Worth Thousands Per Year):
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): up to $8,046 per year
- Child Tax Credit: up to $2,200 per qualifying child, per year
- Additional Child Tax Credit: refundable up to $1,700 per child
- Child and Dependent Care Credit: up to $6,000 for two or more children
- American Opportunity Credit: up to $2,500 per year for college expenses
- Premium Tax Credit: if you had ACA marketplace health coverage
The 3-Year Refund Deadline: This Is Urgent
The IRS allows you exactly 3 years from the original filing deadline to claim a tax refund. After that window closes, the money belongs to the U.S. Treasury, permanently. No extensions.
Tax Year | Original Filing Deadline | Refund Claim Expires | Status |
2024 | April 15, 2025 | April 15, 2028 | Open |
2023 | April 15, 2024 | April 15, 2027 | Open |
2022 | April 15, 2023 | April 15, 2026 | Open |
2021 | April 15, 2022 | April 15, 2025 | CLOSING SOON |
2020 | May 17, 2021 | May 17, 2024 | Expired |
2019 | July 15, 2020 | July 15, 2023 | Expired |
If you have unfiled 2022 taxes, your refund window is closing. Every week you wait is a week closer to losing that money forever. Your deadline is April 15, 2026.
Call (901) 582-8910, and we can help you file back taxes.
The Back Tax Filing Process at TaxShield Service
Below is our back tax filing process:
Step 1: Free Consultation (30 Minutes, No Obligation)
Come in or call us at (901) 582-8910. We review your situation completely, no judgment, no alarm, no pressure. We discuss how many years are unfiled, whether you likely owe or are owed, what documents you have, your biggest concerns, and a realistic estimate of your recovery or liability. This review costs nothing.
Step 2: Document Recovery
Don’t have old W-2s or 1099s? Missing documents are NOT a barrier; they’re a step we handle.
- Request IRS wage and income transcripts directly, shows every employer, every form filed
- Pull the Social Security Administration earnings record
- Help request records from former employers
- Reconstruct self-employment income from bank statements (IRS-accepted method)
Step 3: Return Preparation
For each unfiled year, we enter all income, apply all deductions and credits, review for consistency across years, check for IRS substitute returns, and review everything with you before submitting.
Step 4: Strategic Filing Order
When filing multiple years, order matters. We file the most recent years first (establishes compliance), work backward, and time filings to maximize the impact of refunds on amounts owed.
Step 5: Penalty Abatement (Where Applicable)
First-Time Penalty Abatement can eliminate 100% of failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties for eligible filers. Requirements: clean penalty history for the past 3 years, all required returns filed, taxes paid, or payment arranged.
Step 6: Payment Plan Setup (If Needed)
If you owe taxes, we help you set up an IRS installment agreement: calculate the minimum monthly payment, submit the agreement, ensure it stops additional enforcement, and advise on paying down the balance efficiently.
Step 7: Refund Collection
Prior-year returns often require paper processing (6-8 weeks). Refunds are applied to any outstanding balance first. The remaining refund will be sent by check or direct deposit. We track status and keep you informed throughout.
For filers worried about their credit history, no credit check is required to get a tax advance, making TaxShield’s back tax filing process accessible to a wider range of clients.
IRS Substitute Returns: Why You Need to File Your Own
If you haven’t filed for a significant period, the IRS may file a Substitute for Return (SFR) on your behalf. This sounds helpful. It is not.
- IRS uses only income information on file (W-2s and 1099s)
- Claims NO deductions on your behalf, not even the standard deduction
- Claims NO credits: no EITC, no child tax credit, nothing
- Files at the least favorable rate possible
A person who owes $1,200 may have a substitute return showing $4,800 owed. When TaxShield files your actual return, we replace the substitute with your true numbers. This dramatically reduces what you owe.
Penalty and Interest: The Honest Numbers
If you’re owed a refund:
No failure-to-file penalty. No interest. The only risk is losing the refund permanently after the 3-year window. There is literally no downside to filing immediately.
If you owe taxes:
Scenario | Tax Owed | After 1 Year | After 3 Years | After 5 Years |
Small balance | $2,000 | ~$2,760 | ~$3,600 | ~$4,600 |
Medium balance | $5,000 | ~$6,900 | ~$9,000 | ~$11,500 |
Larger balance | $10,000 | ~$13,800 | ~$18,000 | ~$23,000 |
Every year you wait to pay off a balance you owe, roughly 35-40% is added to what you’ll eventually pay.
Recent Tax Advance Wins
Real Recovery Stories from Memphis
‘3 Years of Fear Gone in One Afternoon’ — Raleigh Customer
Convinced he owed tens of thousands. Too scared to open IRS letters. TaxShield found he was actually owed $11,400 in refunds. Three years of fear erased in one afternoon.
‘They Found $23,000 I Didn’t Know Existed’ — Frayser Customer
Lost a job in 2020, stopped filing, and life fell apart for 3 years. TaxShield filed all three years, recovered $23,000 in EITC and child tax credits. Completely changed the family’s financial situation.
‘No Judgment. Just Help.’ — Whitehaven Customer
Five years of unfiled returns. Treated like any other customer. Filed everything; penalties negotiated down with a first-time abatement; manageable payment plan set up. ‘I sleep through the night now.’
‘IRS Said I Owed $14,000. TaxShield Got It to $3,100.’ — South Memphis Customer
IRS had filed a substitute return at the maximum rate with zero deductions. TaxShield filed an actual return with proper deductions. Real liability: $3,100. Payment plan set up. Saved over $10,000.
Pricing for Back Tax Filing
Return Type | Fee Per Year |
Simple return (1-2 W-2s, standard deduction) | $150 – $200 |
Standard return (multiple income sources, EITC, child credits) | $200 – $300 |
Complex return (self-employed, rental income, multiple 1099s) | $300 – $400 |
Business + personal combined | Custom quote |
Multi-year discount: 10-15% for 3 or more years filed. Free consultation to estimate recovery and quote fees before you commit to a single dollar.
Additional Services:
Service | Fee |
IRS transcript request | Included |
Penalty abatement application | Included |
IRS installment agreement setup | $150 – $250 |
IRS notice response letter | $100 – $200 |
Amended return (our error) | Free |
How to Get Started
Option 1: Call Us (Fastest)
Call (901) 582-8910. Tell us roughly how many years, whether you think you owe or are owed, and your general employment situation. We’ll give you a preliminary assessment in under 10 minutes.
Option 2: Walk In
Monday-Saturday 9 am-7 pm. No appointment needed for initial consultations. During January-April, calling ahead is recommended.
- Austin Peay: 3624 Austin Peay Hwy, Memphis, TN 38128
What to Bring:
Don’t worry about having everything. Bring whatever you have, any W-2s or 1099s, any IRS letters, prior returns if available, and a rough idea of where you worked. If you have nothing at all, come in anyway. We’ll request everything from the IRS directly.
Taxpayers ready to get a tax advance with no fees can follow a few simple steps to access their funds quickly and without unnecessary costs.
TaxShield Service
3624 Austin Peay Hwy, Memphis, TN 38128
Operational hours:
Monday to Saturday: 9 AM–7 PM
Sunday: Closed
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the IRS come after me if I voluntarily file back taxes?
Voluntary filing is almost always treated far more favorably than waiting for IRS enforcement. They have penalty abatement programs specifically to reward people who come forward proactively.
Can I file back taxes if I can't afford to pay what I owe?
Yes. Filing and paying are separate obligations. File immediately to stop the failure-to-file penalty, then work out an IRS installment agreement for the balance.
What if the IRS already filed a substitute return for me?
We can file your actual return to replace it. Real returns with actual deductions are almost always far more favorable, reducing your liability dramatically.
I received an IRS notice. Is it too late to file voluntarily?
Not necessarily. Depending on the type of notice, you may still have time to significantly reduce your liability. Call (901) 582-8910 immediately with the notice in hand.
Can I get an advance refund on my back tax recovery?
Prior-year refunds require paper processing (6-8 weeks). Once the IRS issues your refund, standard TaxShield advance options may be available.
Is my situation too complicated for TaxShield?
Call us at (901) 582-8910, and we can figure it out together. We’ve handled everything from simple 2-year gaps to 10-year non-filing situations with IRS substitute returns and significant penalty abatement cases.