A 21-year-old college student recently posted to Reddit’s r/personalfinance community in a panic, sharing that their father hasn’t filed taxes in more than two decades. “My dad hasn’t done his taxes in at least 24 years, as long as my mom has known him,” the post begins.
A Family On The Brink
The situation boiled over when the family received a letter from the IRS claiming the father owes roughly $150,000 in back taxes. The agency is preparing to place a lien on the home. According to the post, the dad flips houses for a living but hasn’t been reporting income to the IRS. Instead, he’s been funneling money into the student’s bank account: “I’m like, his treasurer?” the original poster wrote. “I feel super uncomfortable with it now knowing he hasn’t filed his taxes in so long, and I kinda feel like he just used me as a way to get away from the [the government/IRS]?”
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The student said they are currently unemployed and have been struggling to find work. Meanwhile, their mother is chronically ill and financially dependent on their dad, who receives Social Security. The parents aren’t legally married but have lived together for over two decades.
Commenters were straightforward: the father is committing tax fraud, and the student is at risk of being seen as complicit. “You’re not his treasurer, you’re his tax evasion partner. (Knowingly or otherwise),” one person wrote. Others warned that shared accounts could result in the IRS seizing funds or triggering legal consequences.
“Once their auditors do tracing, which is easy for them with bank accounts,” one commenter, identifying as a certified public accountant, added, “they are going to see your dad was avoiding tax and doing fraudulent transfers to a third party, which implicates you.”
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Many urged the student to immediately remove themselves from all shared bank and credit card accounts and open new ones in their own name at a different bank. Others warned them to freeze their credit and check for signs of identity theft.
Some suspected the father may already have had his own accounts garnished, prompting him to start hiding money through his child. “Make no mistake, your father understands what he’s doing perfectly,” one person said. “He chose to put money in your account because he knows IRS will look into his.”
Legal And Financial Fallout
Several professionals in the thread noted that the IRS might be assuming income based on house sale prices alone, with no deductions factored in. That could mean the $150,000 bill is inflated, but it still must be addressed. Filing back taxes with a qualified accountant could help reduce the amount owed, but time is running out.
Despite family members pleading with him to face reality, the dad has refused. “He just wants to bury his head in the sand and think everything will go away if he ignores it,” the student wrote.
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It’s Not Too Late To Get Help
While the thread painted a grim picture, many stressed that there are paths forward if action is taken now. The top advice was to speak with a tax lawyer or CPA as soon as possible. One even suggested reaching out to the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service to potentially put a hold on collections while the case is reviewed.
For anyone feeling overwhelmed by financial messes like this, platforms like WiserAdvisor can help connect people with certified financial planners. A free consultation might be all it takes to avoid a situation like this in the future.
In the words of one Redditor: “Protect yourself. Get an accountant and a lawyer… And pray the IRS decides to be nice.”
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