How much does it cost to file a late tax return in New York?

Short answer: at Evergreen, a late (prior-year) individual return starts at $325 per year, and that includes the federal return and one state. The bigger cost is usually not the prep fee. It's the penalties and interest that keep growing until the return is filed.

Here is what goes into the total, in plain terms.

1. The preparation fee

Our posted minimums (the full list is on our pricing page):

Your final fee is confirmed in writing after we look at your documents and before any work starts. A written quote is honored for 30 days.

If you're more than one year behind, each year is its own return. Three missed years of a simple W-2 return start at about $975.

2. What the IRS adds

• Failure-to-file penalty: 5% of the unpaid tax for each month (or part of a month) the return is late, up to 25%. For returns more than 60 days late there's also a minimum penalty, which the IRS adjusts every year. (Internal Revenue Code §6651(a)(1))
• Failure-to-pay penalty: 0.5% of the unpaid tax per month, up to 25%. (IRC §6651(a)(2))
• Interest on the unpaid tax and penalties, at the IRS's quarterly rate.

The failure-to-file penalty is ten times the failure-to-pay penalty. That's why we tell people to file even if they can't pay yet: filing stops the bigger penalty from growing.

3. What New York adds

New York charges its own late-filing penalty on unpaid tax, also up to 25%, plus a late-payment penalty and interest (NY Tax Law §685(a)). If you owe the state, the same rule applies: file first, then sort out payment.

4. If you're owed a refund, there's no penalty, but there is a deadline

If you had withholding from a W-2 and no balance due, a late return usually carries no penalty at all. But you only have three years from the original due date to claim a refund (IRC §6511). After that, the refund is gone for good. Skipped 2023? You have until April 15, 2027. Here's how to claim a 2023 refund. Many people who think they "owe" for a missed year are actually owed money.

How we handle late returns

• We're 100% remote. You upload documents through our secure client portal, and we work by phone and video.
• If you're missing W-2s or 1099s, we can work from the income records the IRS already has, once you request your wage and income transcript.
• We prepare and e-file current-year and prior-year returns. We don't represent clients in IRS collections, audits or appeals, and we don't negotiate payment plans on your behalf. If you already have IRS notices or a collection case, you'll want an enrolled agent, CPA or tax attorney for that part.

Shane Panas is a New York State registered tax return preparer and IRS PTIN holder.

Book a free 15-minute fit call and we'll tell you which years you need and what it will cost before you commit to anything.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to file a late tax return?

At Evergreen, a prior-year individual return starts at $325 per year, including the federal return and one state. Self-employment, rentals and extra states add to that. Your price is confirmed in writing before work starts.

Is there a penalty for filing taxes late if I'm getting a refund?

Usually not. Late-filing penalties are a percentage of the tax you owe, so if you're owed a refund there's typically nothing to charge. You have three years from the original due date to claim it.

Should I file even if I can't pay?

Yes. The IRS failure-to-file penalty (5% a month) is much bigger than the failure-to-pay penalty (0.5% a month), so filing on time or as soon as possible stops the larger penalty.

How many years back can I file?

You can file any past year. To claim a refund you generally have three years from the original due date. The IRS usually asks non-filers for the last six years of returns.

General information, not advice for your specific situation.