Client Login
Talk to a CPA

Back Taxes & Unfiled Tax Returns Help in Iowa

Get caught up with a transcript-verified plan, clear priorities, and secure remote support statewide.

  • Identify missing years with IRS records
  • Verify balances with IRS records
  • Rebuild records and file correctly
  • Reduce escalation risk by getting compliant
  • Create a plan to stay current going forward
Couple at a desk feeling relieved after organizing tax documents for IRS and Iowa tax resolution
Start My Path to Clarity

Serving Iowa taxpayers statewide • Remote-first support •  CPA-led guidance

What Back Taxes Usually Mean

Most people with back taxes aren’t just dealing with a balance — they’re dealing with uncertainty. The first step is verifying what’s missing (and what the IRS already has on file), then building a clear plan to get current without creating new problems. We start with transcripts and notices, organize the filing order, and create next steps you can follow to resolve the issue and stay compliant.

  • Stabilize urgent deadlines and notices
  • Verify missing years and balances (transcripts)
  • Gather / rebuild records (income, bank, payroll)
  • File the right returns in the right order
  • Evaluate resolution options after you’re compliant
  • Build a system to stay current

Common Back Tax Situations We See Across Iowa

  • Self-employed / 1099 income with missed estimates
  • Small business owners with bookkeeping gaps
  • Real estate investors with missing 1099s / K-1s
  • W-2 earners with under-withholding + old balances
  • Multiple years unfiled due to life events (job loss, divorce, illness)
  • Payroll tax filings or unpaid payroll taxes noted by the IRS (common after cash flow issues or bookkeeping breakdowns)
  • Cryptocurrency underreporting or non-reporting (missing exchanges, wallets, or 1099s; unclear cost basis)
  • Hardship situations where paying the balance isn’t realistic right now (job loss, medical issues, business downturn, etc.)

Business and complex back-tax situations

Back taxes aren’t always just a missed return. We also see cases involving payroll tax filings, unreported crypto activity, and situations where the taxpayer simply cannot pay without creating financial hardship. In those cases, we focus on verified facts, compliance, and a resolution path that fits the real-world constraints.

Our Process for Complete Resolution of Tax Issues

1) Free Discovery Chat Scheduled in 24 hours​

Fill out the brief questionnaire below, to schedule your Discovery Chat and begin your case resolution process with a one-on-one consultation with James C. Yochum, CPA, IRS Tax Resolution Specialist. We’ll discuss your tax concerns, assess your situation, and determine if tax resolution is the right path for you.

What You Get:

  • A comprehensive analysis of your tax situation
  • A personalized roadmap for resolving your issues
  • Transparent pricing estimates before moving forward

2) Investigation (1-2 Weeks) – We Handle the Heavy Lifting

Our team conducts a deep dive into your financial details and IRS/state tax correspondence. To protect you from unexpected collection actions, we assess necessary safeguards and, when appropriate, file powers of attorney (POA) for direct representation.

What Happens Here:

✔ Direct communication with IRS & state tax authorities—you won’t have to deal with them
✔ Immediate review of potential risks, including levies, liens, or garnishments
✔ A full assessment of your tax position to determine the best resolution strategy

3) Custom Tax Plan Designed for You

We craft a detailed, strategic resolution plan that lays out your options, including tax settlements, penalty reductions, and compliance solutions.

Your Tax Plan Includes:

  • Clear breakdown of available resolution options
  • Pros & cons of each strategy to help you choose the best path
  • A step-by-step action plan to bring you into full compliance

4) Implementing Your Resolution Plan (30 days to 10 months)

Once you approve your tax resolution plan, we take action. Our team prepares and submits all required documents to the IRS and state agencies, handling negotiations, appeals, and settlements on your behalf.

How We Get It Done:

  • Direct negotiations with the IRS to secure the best possible outcome
  • Filing of Offers in Compromise, Installment Agreements, or CNC status
  • Ongoing case updates so you’re informed every step of the way

5) Stay Protected with Ongoing IRS Monitoring

Once your case is resolved, we don’t stop there. As part of our Momentum tax plan and IRS Audit Guard services, we provide continuous monitoring and proactive tax planning to prevent future issues.

Why This Matters:

  • IRS account monitoring to catch potential issues before they escalate
  • Audit protection services to keep you compliant and stress-free
  • A long-term tax strategy to prevent future tax problems

What We Need From You

  • IRS notices (if any)
  • Prior returns (if available)
  • W-2s, 1099s, K-1s (or transcript equivalents)
  • Bank/credit card statements for missing years (when needed)
  • Business basics (entity type, payroll, bookkeeping access)

If you don’t have everything, that’s okay — we’ll start with what you have and build from there.

Iowa note: IRS vs Iowa Department of Revenue

Many Iowa taxpayers have both federal and state tax issues happening at the same time. In addition to IRS matters, we can help coordinate with the Iowa Department of Revenue when state action is involved. We’ll help you sort what’s state vs. federal, prioritize urgent deadlines, and build a plan to move both forward. It’s vitally important to approach an experienced CPA Firm to handle federal and state issues, as some state collections take precedence over federal collection. 

How many years do I need to file to get compliant?

It depends on your facts and what you’re trying to accomplish. State filing requirements can differ from federal requirements, so if Iowa returns are missing as well, we’ll factor those into the plan so you’re current at both the state and federal level.

In many cases, the IRS looks for taxpayers to be current on required filings, and a common benchmark is having the last six years filed before the IRS will consider many resolution options. That said, some situations require more (or occasionally fewer) years depending on your history, income sources, and what the IRS has already assessed. The best first step is to verify what’s missing using transcripts and then build a filing plan in the right order—so you can become compliant and pursue the best resolution path.

That’s common, and it doesn’t automatically stop progress. While having complete records is ideal, we can often use IRS transcripts to identify what was reported under your SSN or your business EIN (such as W-2s, 1099s, and other information returns). From there, we help you rebuild what’s missing using whatever documentation you do have—bank statements, accounting records, payroll reports, and third-party confirmations when needed. Our goal is to prioritize the most important gaps first so the returns can be prepared accurately and you can move forward.

In most cases, you’ll need to get current on required filings before the IRS will approve (and keep) a payment plan. A common compliance benchmark is having the most recent six years filed, though what’s required can vary based on your history and what the IRS has on record. That’s why the usual approach is to verify missing years via transcripts, file the required returns in the right order, and then set up the payment plan based on the confirmed balance.

If the IRS filed a Substitute for Return (SFR), it’s often best to file your original return for that year. An SFR is typically prepared using income the IRS has on file (W-2s/1099s) and often doesn’t include deductions, credits, or business expenses you may be entitled to. Filing your actual return can reduce the tax assessed and replace the SFR figures, which may lower the balance and put you in a better position for resolution options.

Yes. We can help with both IRS and Iowa Department of Revenue back taxes. When both are involved, we first verify what’s owed and what’s missing on each side, then build a filing and resolution plan that prioritizes deadlines and enforcement risk. State collection actions can sometimes escalate quickly, so we help you determine what needs attention first while keeping the overall plan coordinated at both the federal and state level.

Filing is often a necessary first step, but it doesn’t automatically stop collections. What happens next depends on whether the IRS has already assessed a balance and what collection status your account is currently in. In many cases, once a tax is assessed (either from a filed return or an IRS assessment such as an SFR), the IRS generally has a limited time to collect—this is tied to the Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED), which is typically 10 years from the date of assessment. Filing helps establish accurate numbers and puts you in a position to pursue the right resolution option (payment plan, relief requests, or other arrangements) to reduce escalation risk.

Yes. We commonly work with self-employed Iowa taxpayers who fell behind on estimated taxes due to uneven cash flow. The priority is to get you current going forward (so the problem doesn’t keep growing) while we address prior balances. Depending on your situation, we may prepare a Collection Information Statement (such as the IRS Form 433 series) to document income, expenses, assets, and cash flow. That information helps determine which resolution options may fit your current financial reality—especially when paying the full balance immediately isn’t feasible.

Ready to Get Caught Up? Let's get your Discovery Chat scheduled!

Begin the Discovery Questionnaire

If you reach out by phone or email, our team will kindly direct you here to fill out the Questionnaire first—so we can serve you efficiently and effectively.

To reserve your Discovery Chat, you must complete our short intake questionnaire first. This helps us understand your situation, confirm fit, and prepare to serve you at the highest level.

Note: Our firm works through ongoing advisory and resolution engagements. Individual tax preparation is provided only in connection with active business partnerships, tax resolution matters, or legacy & wealth planning engagements.

If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies, the questionnaire will help us determine the right path forward.

Discovery Chats are available in-person, via Google Meet, or by phone.

Our work requires timely communication, document sharing, and follow-through. This process is designed for clients ready to engage.

Skip to content