[header] How to prepare to file bankruptcy [title] Get your taxes in order. [step] Filing federal and state taxes is an annual requirement, so you should not be too far behind. However, if you have let it go for a few years, this may be an indication in itself that you are having financial difficulty. 
Before doing anything else, you need to catch up on your federal and state income tax filings. [substeps] Although everyone seems to focus on the april 15 due date each year, you actually may file tax returns at any time.