LT26: File Your Missing Tax Returns Now

Why you might get this

• The IRS contacted you earlier about missing tax returns and didn't hear back.
• Their records show you were required to file for one or more years but no return has come in.
• You may have unfiled returns for several tax years.

The deadline

Your notice asks you to send your completed returns to the address printed on it within the time frame the notice states. Filing quickly matters: if you're owed a refund, you generally have to file within a limited window from the original due date to still get that money, and waiting can add more interest and penalties to anything you owe. Check the exact date and instructions printed on your own notice.

This notice doesn't carry a fixed response deadline, but it still deserves attention — see what to do below.

What to do

1. Read your notice carefully to see exactly which tax years and returns are missing.
2. Prepare and file the missing returns, then mail them to the address shown on your notice.
3. If you already filed and it's been more than 10 weeks, call the toll-free number on your notice.
4. If you don't think you were required to file, use the IRS 'Do I Need to File a Tax Return?' tool, and call the number on your notice with that information.
5. If you can't pay the full balance, pay what you can now and consider setting up an installment agreement (a plan to pay over time), such as the Online Payment Agreement tool or Form 9465.

What happens if you ignore it

If you don't respond, the IRS can keep pursuing your unfiled returns, may figure the tax for you in a way that often leaves out deductions and credits you'd qualify for, and can add more penalties and interest. Because LT26 is part of the collection process, ignoring it can lead to stronger collection actions later.

The LT26 is a follow-up in the IRS collection process, which means earlier reminders went unanswered. If you keep ignoring it, the IRS can move toward enforced collection. You can get free help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service or a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic if you qualify.

What the LT26 Notice Means

Getting an LT26 notice means the IRS reached out before about tax returns you haven't filed, and they didn't get a response. Now they're asking you to file those returns right away.

Start by reading your notice closely. It lists which tax years are missing — sometimes it's more than one. Then prepare each return and mail it to the address printed on your notice.

If you already filed, and it's been more than 10 weeks since you sent it, call the toll-free number on your notice. If you don't think you needed to file at all, the IRS has a "Do I Need to File a Tax Return?" tool that can help — then call them with what you find.

Worried about the cost? File anyway and pay what you can. That lowers the interest and penalties that build up over time. If you owe money you can't pay all at once, you may be able to set up a payment plan online or with Form 9465.

This notice is part of the IRS collection process, so it's best not to wait. Solace can keep an eye on your IRS account so you know when things change.