Okay, so much for the emotional dump on the forums, let's make this giveaway thread now.

Yes you do, because I say so .

Call a tax lawyer, and ask him if there's any way you can still get the money. There's usually a loop-hole for anything.

^This

Don't worry everything will be fine.

On a serious note, you made a mistake regarding paperwork. Don't beat yourself up over it. In a few years you'll forget it happened, or laugh at the thought.

We are humans, so we can make mistakes. It happens, no one wants to do it, but it happens. So tunes you up and all we go well.

Sorry to hear that. But do as Licurg said, is worth a try.

Also, this must have something related with your lack of sleep, maybe affecting your memory. Please, consult a doctor.

Take a deep breath and try to relax. Go for a short walk if you can.

You may be able to fix this. Licurg's advice is good - try to get in touch with anybody you know who might be able to assist or offer advice.

Depending on what it is, you usually can amend your taxes for a full year after they're sent in.

More likely than not, you can put in a little effort and help your folks out.

Otherwise, it's just a few thousand dollars. It might sound like a lot at first, but it's not.

I'm a parent of 3 children. And if all they cost me was a few thousand dollars, then I'd be a rich man. :)

If you want some specific advice, you could tell us more about what exactly was going on if it's appropriate to tell folks.

Don't over-fret over things. In retrospect, a thousand isn't worth all that tension. Just be calm.

Very good point, I was going to add this.
I filed (amended) my 2007 taxes 3 times because of the floods we had in 2008.

Edit: Correction

Texas?

Iowa, Cedar Rapids

It's not income taxes. She doesn't even pay thousands in income taxes total, much less a mistake making that much of a difference.

It's real estate taxes, and because of her age, she is exempted in our county.... but you have to file an annual form to be eligible. And that form is due April 1. And I completely forgot.

So, instead of her real estate taxes being zero, as it has since she reached the age of exemption (70 IIRC but no longer really remember that) she will now owe 100% of her real estate taxes, which is above $7,000.

No tax preparer in the world can help with that. And while she's not poor, this is, and will be, a MAJOR HIT to her, living only on social security and pensions.

No, there is no making up on this one, no forgetting laughing about it later, this will affect her directly, all because of me, and I just can't stand living with the thought of that after all she, Dad when he was alive, and the rest of the family have done for me since becoming disabled Nov 24, 1999.

I am just so not going to be able to deal with this I think...

Then make it right?

Do you have anything you can sell, any skills you can use to earn some money, any way to get part-time work to pay her back and feel better about yourself again?