109. Filing a Previous Year Federal Return

What you need to fill out your federal income tax return: 

1. Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) if applicable
2. Form W-2 (employment income) if any for that year (if you do not have it anymore, go to BannerWeb to print it out) and/or contact your former employer(s)
3. Form 1042-S (employment income or scholarship income) if any for that year (if you do not have it anymore, email the Taxmanager for a copy) and / or contact other places where you worked and / or received financial aid
4. Form 1098T (scholarship income for U.S. citizens and resident aliens for tax purposes) if any for that year (if you do not have it anymore, go to BannerWeb to print it out and/or contact Student Financial Services of the school
5. Form 1099MISC (self-employment income or prize income for U.S. citizens and resident aliens for tax purposes) if any for that year (if yo do not have it anymore, email Accounts Payable for a copy) and / or contact other places where you received a prize for over $600 or provided independent services
6. Form 1099INT or 1099DIV etc. for Interest and Dividend Income for that year
7. Form 1099G (state tax refund from previous year) if any
8. Checking account information, i.e., account and routing number for direct deposit of tax refund if any
9. Go to the IRS website and find the applicable tax forms with its instructions for the year for which you still need to file your taxes. The forms needed most likely are: Form 1040 or 1040EZ if you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien for tax purposes in that year or Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ if you were a nonresident alien for tax purposes in that year. As a nonresident alien in F, J, M, or Q status, you also have to fill out Form 8843.
1. IRS Forms and Instructions for 2007
2. IRS Forms and Instructions for 2006
3. IRS Forms and Instructions for 2005
4. IRS Forms and Instructions for 2004

Some notes: 

1. The easiest way to file previous year tax returns is by doing the current year tax return with the help of CINTAX for nonresident aliens or other software for U.S. citizens and resident aliens for tax purposes. Use that tax return as an example for how to do previous year returns. Be aware though that tax forms might have changed over time;
2. If you do not owe any money to the IRS, you will likely not get any penalty payments assessed;
3. Late filing and owing money however, might result in a penalty and interest on the amount owed;
4. Remember to file previous year state returns as well.

Last Updated: April 6, 2009