How much of a red flag (for a USAO) is filing/paying taxes late? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Self-explanatory; anyone have any insight on how much of an issue (if any) would it be during the clearance process if I filed and paid a very small tax liability (think like $200) a few months late (about 4-5 years from the date of application)?

[Anonymous User]

I was told that the only auto dealbreakers were post-bar drug use, defaulting on student loans, and failure to pay taxes. Now, of course, because I’m a lawyer, I have to say that no one defined that further for me, so I don’t know whether paying late 4-5 years ago would count, and I suspect that failure means failure, not just one late payment. But I can’t guarantee that.

[andythefir]

To work for a USAO you need a secret level security clearance, but before the clearance process, you need to have an offer from the USAO. So it’s a 2 step analysis. 1 is there something on your resume/cover letter/reference that would catch their eye as a reason not to hire you? If not, then 2 is it the kind of thing that would cause you to not get a security clearance? I don’t think late taxes flags either of those.

[Anonymous User]

To work for a USAO you need a secret level security clearance, but before the clearance process, you need to have an offer from the USAO. So it’s a 2 step analysis. 1 is there something on your resume/cover letter/reference that would catch their eye as a reason not to hire you? If not, then 2 is it the kind of thing that would cause you to not get a security clearance? I don’t think late taxes flags either of those.

As someone who got a secret clearance with something similar in my record I really don't think that's even close to a dealbreaker.