Just went through this exact situation last month! My company filed for Chapter 11 in October and I was panicking about my W-2 too. Here's what actually worked for me: First, I found the bankruptcy court filing online through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). The filing listed the bankruptcy trustee's contact information. I called their office and they confirmed they're legally required to issue W-2s - they just needed more time to sort through the company's records. While waiting, I also contacted my state's Department of Labor. Turns out they had quarterly wage reports on file for my employer that showed my earnings by quarter. This gave me a backup way to verify my annual income if the W-2 never came. The trustee ended up sending my W-2 in late February, but having those state records gave me peace of mind that I could file accurately either way. Don't panic - there are definitely ways to handle this even when the company completely disappears! Also, keep detailed records of every attempt you make to get your W-2 (emails, phone calls, etc.). The IRS wants to see you made good faith efforts before using Form 4852.

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! I'm in almost the exact same situation - my employer suddenly closed in December and I'm scrambling to figure out the W-2 situation. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me a clear action plan. Here's what I'm taking away from all the great advice shared here: 1. First, I'll try to find the bankruptcy trustee through PACER (thanks @Fatima Al-Farsi for that tip!) 2. Check if we used a third-party payroll company like ADP or Paychex 3. Contact my state's Department of Labor for quarterly wage reports 4. Gather all my bank statements and any old pay stubs I can find 5. If all else fails, use Form 4852 with careful documentation The taxr.ai recommendation from multiple people sounds promising too - having a confidence score and detailed methodology for the estimates would definitely help with my anxiety about getting the numbers wrong. I'm also going to try that Claimyr service if I need to speak with the IRS directly. After seeing even the skeptical poster come back and confirm it worked, it seems worth trying rather than spending days on hold. One question for the group: has anyone dealt with a company that used direct deposit but also provided paper checks occasionally? I'm trying to figure out if I should include both in my calculations or if there might be duplicates in my bank records. Thanks again everyone - this community is amazing for supporting each other through these stressful tax situations!

Has anyone considered that OP might be confused about what "unearned income" means? Scholarships used for qualified expenses aren't taxable income at all. Only scholarships that exceed your education expenses or are used for room and board are taxable. It sounds like your scholarship was less than your tuition, so none of it should count as taxable unearned income. I think you're getting tripped up by the tax software.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation, especially with the family complications involved. Based on what you've described, it sounds like you shouldn't need to file Form 8615 at all. You mentioned you're 20, worked full-time, and provided more than half of your own support. This is key - the "kiddie tax" that Form 8615 addresses doesn't apply to students who are financially independent. The fact that you paid your own rent, groceries, and utilities while working full-time clearly demonstrates you're supporting yourself. Additionally, since your $3,000 scholarship went entirely toward your $8,500 tuition (qualified education expenses), none of that scholarship money counts as taxable unearned income. The software is likely flagging this incorrectly. For your tax software issue, try these steps: 1. Double-check that you marked "Yes" when asked if you provided more than half of your own support 2. In the scholarship/education section, make sure you indicated the full $3,000 was used for qualified education expenses 3. Look for an override option - many tax programs have a way to skip forms that don't apply If the software still won't cooperate, you might need to contact their support or consider switching to a different tax program. You definitely shouldn't need your mother's SSN for this situation, and I'm sorry you're having to navigate tax issues while dealing with family estrangement.

Dont forget about the standard mileage deduction!!! Its 67 cents per mile for 2024 i think which adds up FAST. I drove about 5000 miles for doordash last year and it saved me thousands in taxes. Make sure you track EVERY mile from when you turn the app on until you turn it off.

Great question, Lily! I've been doing gig work alongside my full-time job for about two years now, and the tax situation definitely takes some getting used to. Here are a few key things I wish someone had told me when I started: First, open a separate checking account just for your Doordash earnings. Deposit everything there and immediately transfer your tax savings (I do 30% to be safe) to a separate savings account. This makes tracking so much easier and ensures you're not accidentally spending your tax money. Second, start tracking expenses from day one - not just mileage, but also things like phone accessories (car mounts, chargers), insulated bags, and even a portion of your phone bill since you're using it for work. These add up more than you'd think. The quarterly payment thing sounds scary, but it's really not that bad once you get into the rhythm. Just remember the dates: April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. You can make payments online at irs.gov/payments - super easy. One last tip: consider adjusting your W-4 at your regular job to have extra taxes withheld. Sometimes that's easier than making quarterly payments, especially if your Doordash income isn't huge. Good luck with saving for that truck!

Has anyone used TurboTax to amend a return with a 1099-R code 8/J? I'm in a very similar situation and wondering if it handles these special codes correctly or if I need to go to a tax professional.

One thing I'd add about your situation - since you're planning to make that additional $1,800 contribution before the April deadline, make sure you have accurate documentation of your final 2024 income. The Roth IRA contribution limits are based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), and if your income was indeed lower than expected, you want to be certain you're not accidentally creating another excess contribution situation. The phase-out ranges for 2024 are $138,000-$153,000 for single filers and $218,000-$228,000 for married filing jointly. If you're close to these thresholds, double-check your final AGI calculation before making that contribution. Also, when you file Form 1040-X for the amendment, you'll want to include a brief explanation in Part III about why you're amending - something like "Adding 1099-R for return of excess Roth IRA contribution" keeps it simple and clear for the IRS processor.

Has anyone actually calculated whether putting a bonus in a 401k is better than just taking the hit on taxes now? I mean, you'll eventually pay taxes when you withdraw from the 401k anyway, right? Just at your regular income tax rate at retirement?

One thing to consider that wasn't mentioned yet - if you're planning to leave your company in the next year or two, check if your 401k plan allows in-service withdrawals or if you'd have to wait until you separate from service to access the money. Some plans have restrictions on when you can withdraw or roll over funds. Also, make sure you understand the vesting schedule for any employer matching. If your bonus contribution triggers additional employer matching and you're not fully vested, you might lose some of that match if you leave before the vesting period is complete. The tax deferral is definitely beneficial in most cases, but it's worth understanding all the plan-specific rules before committing 100% of your bonus to the 401k.