Ask TaxMama ... Got Lost In The Mail ... March 23, 2001

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Tax Information With A Mother's Touch

Published by Eva Rosenberg, MBA, EA
Volume 3 Issue 105 March 23, 2001

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Got Lost In The Mail

From: Chapel Hill, NC

Dear TaxMama,

Thank you for the site!

I found the question from the Georgia man and your answer helps a lot. One more question:

I mailed my 1998 federal and state taxes on Apr. 15th, 1999. The federal, I sent to the wrong address, and I still have it, unopened. The state (NC) did not come back, but last year I got forwarded to me a tax bill from an address I don't recognize - for the whole year's worth of taxes.

I have not filed since, but am getting ready to file for 1999 and 2000. I want to correct the 1998 also, but do I open the returned Federal to redo the state and send it on?

I do not have a copy and don't know what it says. Or do I forward the unopened federal on now, with an explanation and then try to get a copy later to get to the NC?

Thanks VERY much!
Della

Hi Della,

Thank you for your kind words.

Go ahead and open the Federal return NOW!!!

Make a copy of that return for your records.

If you had a refund, if you don't file that return before April 15th of next year, you will lose it.

So, open that envelope and send it to the right address immediately! No explanation necessary.

If there was a check in there, replace it with a current check. The old one won't be any good. Sadly, your explanation of why the return is late won't really matter any more. It might have in 1999, but that was nearly two years ago. So, if there is a balance due, they will hit you with penalties (25%! for late filing and up to 25% for underpayment - .5% per month up to 50 months)

Now, you have made a copy of that IRS return. Use it to recreate the Georgia return.

If your IRS return had any W-2s on it, be SURE to copy it (them) so you can use them on the GA return.

I don't see 1998 forms on Georgia's website, but you can call them and ask for them here:

What many states and the IRS do when they don't have a return from you is to take the amounts from W-2's and 1099s that were reported to them. They create a tax return for you, without using any deductions to which you might be entitled. (After all, they don't know them, do they?) Doing this usually gets the errant taxpayer's attention. (Hmm, I should really thank the government. That's what gets so many non-filers into my office...)

Best wishes,
Eva Rosenberg
TaxMama
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