Can I File My 2009 Taxes Online in 2015?

The last chance to claim a 2009 Tax Refund Was April 15, 2013, but you can still file 2009 Taxes with RapidTax.

Yes, you can still file your 2009 taxes. However,  the IRS has a statute of limitations that only allows you to get a refund for three years after the original due date of a return.

In other words, you can file your late 2009 tax return, but you won’t be able to claim your 2009 refund. The last day to file and get a 2009 refund was April 15, 2013. After this date, the government stopped issuing 2009 refunds, even though you’re technically still required to file a 2009 return.

If you weren’t expecting a 2009 refund and instead, have tax due, you’ll want to file your 2009 taxes as soon as possible.

IRS Statute Of Limitations

Unfortunately, though you only have three years to get a refund, the statute of limitations on the IRS collecting taxes due is ten years. So if you owe money, don’t think that you’ve successfully evaded the IRS. They still have 5 years to collect your tax due.

If you do owe the government money, you may have to pay a failure-to-file penalty, a failure-to-pay penalty, and interest. These penalties get larger for every day that your return is late, so it makes sense to file as soon as possible.

How To File 2009 Taxes Today

Many people who are late on their taxes automatically assume that they’ll be punished for it. However, if you were entitled to a refund, you won’t be facing penalties. After all, not being able to claim your refund is a punishment in itself. However, you should still file.

Unfortunately you won’t be able to e-file your 2009 return. E-file is only available between January and October for current year returns. This means that you’ll have to paper file your 2009 return.

You can still prepare your return online with RapidTax. To do so, create an account and enter your tax information. Then, we’ll do the hard work for you. After your return is prepared,  you’ll simply print it out, sign, and mail it to the IRS yourself.

If you have any questions along the way, the RapidTax team is available via phone, chat and email!

Photo via Jérôme on Flickr.

111 Replies to “Can I File My 2009 Taxes Online in 2015?”

  1. I already e-filed my 2012 taxes. BUt, i still have to file one for the 2009(1098-T). And since it has to be mailed, i am moving out in 15 days, should i add my New Address or will there be consequences for using the new address if you are still living in the old apt?

    1. Hi Gyve,

      I would probably use the new address, just to make sure you get any correspondence they need to send you. There shouldn’t be any negative consequences. Plus, writing your new address on your return will save you from having to separately change your address in writing.

  2. I am a bit confused. I need to file my 2009 taxes. Good thing is they owe me money. Above it says that you can’t e file and to just fill out the form online print it and mail it in. So I pay the 34.99 or the 49.99 just to prepare it on this site print it and then mail it in?

    1. Hi Alex,

      Yes that’s correct. Unfortunately prior year returns can’t be e-filed. So basically everything will be the same as if you were filing a current year return normally, except at the very end instead of e-filing you’ll just print out your return, sign it, and mail it to the IRS.

    1. Hi Britt,

      No, you cannot include a 2011 W-2 on your 2012 return. If you didn’t file a return for 2011, then you need to file a separate 2011 return (which you can do right here on RapidTax). If you did file a 2011 return but just forgot to include this W-2 then you need to amend your 2011 return. Your 2012 return should only report the income you received in 2012.

    1. Hi Shawna,

      Your 2009 return will be governed by the tax laws in effect for 2009, not by new tax laws that were established recently. So you should be able to claim the American Opportunity Credit for 2009.

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