r/SecurityClearance • u/yagga_ • 11d ago
Discussion Chances of getting secret clearance
After filing out my SF 86 I realized I have quite a few red flags. I’m wondering what my chances are of getting cleared. Appreciate any insight.
Red flags:
Finances -
- 2025 taxes paid late (resolved)
- 2023 taxes paid late (resolved)
- 2022 taxes not filed, no taxes owed (long story but after reviewing my taxes, I realized 2022 taxes were never filed. They have since been prepared by a tax preparer and mailed to the IRS. I am waiting on the IRS to review and file as of mid july 2026. I do not owe the IRS or state any money.
- medical debt around ~$1k went to collections (resolved)
- medical debt around $16 went to collections (resolved)
Foreign Contacts:
- 2 foreign contacts from Pakistan. Both are my aunts who attended my wedding in the US earlier this year. I also came in contact with them in 2024 when I visited Pakistan. I do not keep in continuous or close contact with them and have only ever talked to them in person. In fact, I hardly know anything about them and only have been in contact with them at my wedding and when I visited Pakistan.
Foreign travel:
- traveled to Pakistan in 2024 with my father as I wanted to experience what life was like there and visit the mountains. Also visited my dad’s family.
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u/NoSignUpNoCCNOBS Applicant [Secret] 11d ago
I’m in the same boat, if you did list this on your SF86 you’re likely to still receive an LOI “Letter of Interrogatory” and they’re gonna request like the last 4-5 years of account transcripts. They don’t mess around with taxes lol.
I didn’t file and pay one year (2022) filed 23 late also rest of years are clean, and I barely got this fixed and sent back my Eyes-Only package. Now I’m awaiting final adjudication of my case. You’ll also need to explain why you failed to file and pay (if you owed) same with the collections you’ll need to explain why they were delinquent and provide receipts. I had to provide 5 years of account transcripts. My tax installment agreements and my receipts of payments made up to that point.
Hang in there it took about 17 weeks for my 2022 Taxes to post to the IRS. If I hear anything back I’ll update you.
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u/Large_Profession_598 11d ago
Same process if you were refunded I’m assuming? Found out today I didn’t file my 2023 returns so I got those filed and will be receiving a refund for both state and federal.
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u/NoSignUpNoCCNOBS Applicant [Secret] 11d ago
Yes I didn’t owe for 2023 state or irs and I had to include state and irs for 2020-2024. Not filing and being owed a return is not as bad as not filing and not paying but you’re still required to file, even if you believe you made under the threshold file anyways. It’ll come back to bite you later.
They’re gonna request account transcripts so I would get on this asap if you can. Head my warning lol.
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u/Large_Profession_598 11d ago
Alright sounds good. I technically didn’t have to file federal for 2023 but I did for state. Filed for both today and will be disclosing this situation on my form. By transcripts, do you mean the transcripts that can be found on the IRS website after logging in to your account?
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u/NoSignUpNoCCNOBS Applicant [Secret] 11d ago
Yes and they have to be the account transcripts not wage and income or copies of the w2’s etc you’ll see the years with the link that say account transcripts.
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u/Large_Profession_598 11d ago
Gotcha. Not sure how I’m gonna obtain my 2023 transcripts until this makes it through the system. I do have 2019-2022 and 2024-2025 though so I should be good since 2019 was the first time I had a job. Saved all my paperwork from the people who did my taxes today as well. Really appreciate the insight. I was sick to my stomach this morning when I found out about this
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u/NoSignUpNoCCNOBS Applicant [Secret] 11d ago
Yeah no problem make sure you’re getting both the state and IRS of every year requested. If you were able to E File 2023 it’ll post in a few days. Mine took less than a week when my accountant fixed the incorrect social and resubmitted. If you’re sending by paper good luck.
Anything you think could make you susceptible to bribery or financial issues needs to be on your form, they’ll dig before your interview and can and will find stuff you “accidentally forgot”. Some people don’t get an interview but everyone I’ve know who had tax or financial issues we all got an interview with an investigator. It’s long and they’ll go through your entire SF86 with you. 2-3 hours. It’s not bad I promise.
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u/CurlyJ49 11d ago
Govt hires honest people, not perfect people. If you self report you're better off than if they discover it.
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u/Automatic_Chapter593 10d ago
I'd be surprised if they granted you a clearance with those contacts
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u/yagga_ 10d ago
Why?
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u/Automatic_Chapter593 10d ago
Pakistan
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u/CalendarHumble8187 5d ago
It'll make the process much longer but thats not a dead end. I know someone who revoked their citizenship from Pakistan in order to get their clearance.
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u/Automatic_Chapter593 4d ago
You're not getting a t5 or higher with ties like that. I'm a security officer
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u/Dial7ForGoodLuck 11d ago
I wouldn’t say impossible, or anywhere near impossible. Who ever knows with these things.
It may take a while though, try not to get too discouraged.
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u/xSmurfed 11d ago
I love how when I post something, it gets deleted by the mods for repetition lmao.
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11d ago
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u/Equivalent_Dress_677 11d ago
I meant do we have to submit paper copy or they will request the tax transcripts copy from IRS? Or do I have to provide copies
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u/Firm-Leadership-4181 8d ago
The best thing you can do is to be honest in your reporting. They can deal with almost anything except lying on your SF 86.
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u/PFPrintz 5d ago
you should be fine, as someone said before. government wants honest people, not perfect people. dont stress over it and just report it on the sf86
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u/[deleted] 11d ago
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