unfiled Taxes

If you haven't filed your tax returns in 16 years, chances are pretty good the IRS and your state taxing agency filed what are called "substitute returns" for those years.  If they did that, then with very rare exceptions, the taxes are never dischargeable in a bankruptcy case. You should consult with a tax resolution specialist for advice on how to deal with this.  Filing your returns may be very beneficial to you, particularly if it shows less taxable income than the IRS is showing. Mark Markus has been practicing exclusively bankruptcy law in California since 1991.  He is a Certified Specialist in Bankruptcy Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization,  AV-Rated by martindale.com, and A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau.