Never filed taxes for US since 2008... how far back should I go?

The subject line says it all really...

I have no investments over $10,000, and don't earn anything close to $92,000 (I wish!). Should I file as far back as 2008, or will the last 3 years do me fine?

Just curious. I know I don't owe any tax and as far as I know, wont be fined...

Thanks!

You asked exactly the same questions in both the Spring of 2010 and 2011.

If the IRS saw your posts they could easily assume that you wilfully failed to file (because you knew about taxes but did not bother).

Why have you not filed before and claimed making work pay credits when you could?

As far as I know, you are meant to file 6 years back.

Right now you can actually join the new Streamlined Procedure - which means filing 3 years of tax returns & 6 years of FBARs (vs the old rule of 6 years of tax returns).

You can learn more about it here: http://www.taxesforexpats.com/services/new-irs-program-delinquent-taxes.html

To find out if you qualify for the program: http://www.taxesforexpats.com/services/streamlined-program-qualifications.html

The streamlined approach is non-statutory (in other words it is a contract with the IRS - not a Congressionally, discussed, debated and agreed and legislated way of removing penalties).

Given that there appears some possible evidence of wilfulness in this case I am not convinced if the risk might not be increased further by using the streamlined approach as against quiet filing - and appealing later against any penalties that might be assessed.

I concur though that one needs to prepare - say - 3 years of past delinquent returns to be able to assess risk - and should be doing this as the first stage of the project before deciding how to deliver the paperwork to the IRS.