Just want to share that your state's Department of Revenue may also have your W2 information! I couldn't get my federal transcript because of identity verification issues, but my state had all my W2 info for the past 5 years that I could download immediately after creating an account on their website. This worked for me in Minnesota, but worth checking for your state too!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! Here's what worked for me after trying everything: First, definitely try the IRS Wage and Income Transcript like others mentioned - but be prepared for their identity verification to be a pain. I had to mail in Form 4506-T because their online system kept rejecting me. For the gig work (Uber, DoorDash, etc.), those companies are actually pretty good about keeping records. Log into your driver accounts if you still can - a lot of them have tax document sections where you can download old 1099s. One thing that saved me time: if you worked somewhere that used ADP, Paychex, or other big payroll companies, try creating an account directly with them. Many of my old W2s were available there even when the actual employers were unhelpful. Don't stress too much about penalties if you're getting refunds - you won't owe anything extra for filing late. If you do owe money, the IRS is usually willing to work with you on payment plans, especially if you're making a good faith effort to get compliant. The hardest part is just getting started, but once you have all your documents, filing multiple years isn't as bad as it seems. You've got this!

Has anyone actually tried to switch tax preparers after getting an advance? Is it even worth the hassle? I got a $500 advance from a preparer last year and when I found out they made a mistake, I just let them fix it rather than trying to switch. Wouldn't it be easier to just bring your W2 back to Jackson Hewitt and demand they redo your return correctly? They're legally obligated to prepare an accurate return, aren't they? What if Meta Bank refuses to let you repay directly? What if your credit takes a hit while you're trying to sort this out? What if the new calculation is actually wrong?

I went through this exact scenario two years ago with Jackson Hewitt and a $300 advance. Here's what worked for me: First, don't panic - you absolutely have the right to switch preparers. The key is getting Meta Bank's Tax Advance Repayment team directly. When you call Meta Bank (855-398-1212), immediately say "Tax Advance Repayment" when prompted - this bypasses their general customer service maze. Have your advance confirmation number, SSN, and the exact amount ready. They'll set up a direct ACH debit from your bank account within 3-5 business days. Once that's processed, you get an email confirmation that releases you from the Jackson Hewitt filing obligation. I then filed with FreeTaxUSA and got an extra $800 refund that Jackson Hewitt had missed due to incorrect standard deduction calculations. The whole process took about a week, but it was absolutely worth it. Don't let them bully you into filing incorrectly - your financial future is more important than their convenience.

One thing to watch out for is that sales tax rates can vary even within the same state! I live in a city with an additional local tax on top of the state rate, so I pay 8.25% total. But if I ship to my parents' house just 20 miles away in a different county, it's only 6.75%. Some online retailers have gotten really sophisticated with their tax calculations and will charge you the exact tax for your specific address, while others might just use a general state rate. That might explain some of the differences you're seeing.

This is such a timely question! I just went through this exact confusion last month when I was shopping for holiday gifts online. What really helped me understand it was realizing that the whole system changed dramatically after the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court case. Before that ruling, online retailers only had to collect sales tax if they had a physical presence in your state. Now, states can require tax collection based on economic thresholds - like if a company sells over $100,000 or makes 200+ transactions in your state per year. That's why you're seeing such inconsistent tax charges between different websites. For your specific situation in Nebraska, you should be paying tax based on your delivery address (destination-based), but only if the retailer has met Nebraska's economic nexus threshold. If they haven't, legally you're supposed to pay "use tax" when you file your state return, though as others mentioned, most people don't actually do this for small purchases. The travel scenario you mentioned is interesting - yes, you'd pay tax based on the hotel's location since that's where the item is being delivered. I learned this the hard way when I had something shipped to my cousin's place in a high-tax city!

24 Has anyone tried calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service instead of dealing directly with the IRS? I've heard they can sometimes help with penalty abatement requests when there are extenuating circumstances like caring for ill family members.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got hit with an underpayment penalty after filing my return. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful, especially the clarification about using Form 2210 vs Form 843. One thing I wanted to add is that when you're writing your explanation letter, be as specific as possible about the timeline of events. In my case, I'm documenting exactly when my family emergency occurred and how it overlapped with the quarterly payment due dates. I think showing that clear connection between the circumstances and the missed payments strengthens the case for "unusual circumstances." Also, if anyone has medical documentation (hospital records, doctor's notes, etc.) that shows the severity and timing of family health issues, include copies with your Form 2210. I've read that the IRS appreciates concrete evidence rather than just a written explanation. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's given me confidence that there's a good chance of getting this penalty waived with the right approach!

I run a small business and got absolutely DESTROYED by one of these ERC mills last year. They convinced me I qualified for $175,000 in credits, took their 28% fee ($49,000!!), and then disappeared when the IRS sent me a notice questioning the claim. Now I'm working with a real CPA to sort through this mess, and it turns out I probably only qualified for about $30,000 in legitimate credits. So I'm potentially on the hook to repay $145,000 PLUS penalties and interest. Meanwhile, the ERC mill is nowhere to be found, and their website is down. The worst part is their contract specifically stated they're "not tax preparers" even though they literally prepared and filed the amended returns. They also claimed no responsibility for audit results. I'd 100% support banning these contingency fees.

Coming from a tax policy perspective, this move by the IRS makes perfect sense. The ERC mills exploit a regulatory gap - they're not technically "tax preparers" under current definitions even though they're preparing amended returns to claim tax credits. Something similar happened with the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) years ago. Preparers would charge huge contingent fees to file for credits that taxpayers often didn't qualify for. When regulations tightened around EITC claims, the accuracy of claims improved significantly. The big difference is timing - EITC fraud can be caught during initial processing, while ERC claims are often paid out first, then audited later. This means businesses can be hit with unexpected repayments years later, long after they've spent the money.