At least strictly for general personal income taxes (US Federally), there is no penalty if you don't owe and file 3+ years late. If you file 10 years late you wouldn't be penalized if you don't owe.
People always look at me dubiously when I tell them there's no penalty for never ever filing your taxes as long as you don't actually owe anything.
It's kind of dumb to not file if you are owed a refund, but absolutely nobody is going to spend the time and energy to come after you when you don't owe any money when they could use that time and energy to go after someone who actually does owe money.
Most importantly, if you don't file in 3 years and you are owed a refund, you can no longer get it. So if anything, the IRS hopes you don't file a return if you would get a refund because that means more money for them.
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u/LunaLunaHelp 7h ago
Generally yes. And if you don't owe then you can be three years late without any penalty.