How to File Back Taxes If You Used False Social Security Numbers

[Telly]

My spouse used 2 different false social security numbers over around 5 year period.
- Never filed for taxes - used ssns for work and it was a small amount of taxes not paid
- when married I had spouse quit using them
- left this country (not deported) and spent around 7 years working on reentering
- Listed all known jobs worked and received a pardon for working illegally and overstaying visa
- Did right thing on answering all questions for visa and would like to do the right thing on this but do not want to put spouse at risk of being locked up
- would like to come clean if at all possible
- near retirement age/medicare age and one is asked about using other SSN and if you worked. I will not lie on this but need insurance for her. I am not even sure if spouse can receive Medicare?
- Current insurance will expire for spouse soon
- Even the correct lawyer or lawyers and where to find the right one in my area of NC would be helpful?
- Spouse was wrong but was just happy to be able to feed her family back home, at the time
- now have a legal SSN and would like to somehow pay the past taxes and work out the SSN problem if possible, but if I raise my hand I am afraid it will be cut off

[flyingron]

I'd recommend a tax professional for the returns. You can file old ones, but there will be penalties (but the government will gladly take your money).

She is NOT eligible for medicare. It requires ten years of working as well as being a citizen or a permanent resident.

[STATcom]

Using a fake SSNs can lead to deportation or barring of citizenship eligibility. However, it's not a sure thing. As far getting her medicare, unfortunately only legal permanent residents and citizens are generally eligible.

As far as the back taxes, your spouse is certainly required to pay them. However, you might want to talk to a tax attorney about how best to do so without it affecting her ability to re-enter the country or become a citizen. Generally, back taxes usually just results in fines and principal plus interest, but high amounts can result in jail time.

[Janke]

I don't know how someone would admit to wrongdoing and not be afraid of consequences. I have no advice.

[SimpleBeauty]

This could get tricky with the fake documentation. You are correct to look for a lawyer in NC where you live. I would do that first - they might give you some ideas right over the phone. I've used avvo.com and litigatr.com to find info on tax lawyers.