Yes you can go to jail for non-payment of taxes, but your failure to file and pay must be with the deliberate intent to defraud the government.  In most cases the failure to file is not a deliberate attempt to defraud, but instead caused by carelessness, oversight or unavoidable circumstances.  I have many clients who have not filed or paid taxes in years past but are not facing criminal charges, only attempts to collect the taxes by the IRS.   I am helping them to get current and avoid future problems through Installment Agreements, Offers in Compromise or other measures.  The IRS is willing to work with anyone who wants to put his past mistakes behind him and stay in compliance in the future. In many cases, the IRS will also forgive the penalties that were charged.