Has anyone tried getting W2s directly from ADP or other payroll companies? I know several of my former jobs used ADP for payroll, and they supposedly keep records for many years. Just wondering if that's a viable option before I go through the IRS transcript hassle.

Don't feel bad about being behind on your taxes - you're definitely not alone in this situation! I went through something similar a few years back and it felt overwhelming at first, but it's totally manageable once you get started. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple timeline of my work history first. Even if you can't remember exact dates or company names, try to recall the general timeframe and locations where you worked. Then cross-reference that with your bank statements if you still have access to old ones - look for direct deposits or paychecks that might help you identify employers. Also, don't let perfect be the enemy of good here. The IRS is generally pretty reasonable when you're making a good faith effort to catch up on back taxes, especially if you're being proactive about it. Focus on getting the information you can gather easily first, then tackle the harder-to-find stuff. You mentioned this is technically your first time filing - consider getting help from a tax professional who deals with back taxes regularly. They often have experience with these exact situations and can guide you through the process while making sure you don't miss any deductions or credits you might be entitled to.

Just to add a data point - I traveled internationally last year owing about $8k to the IRS. Had zero issues with my passport. The $55k threshold is real, I confirmed with my tax professional. You should be totally fine with $2,200. But definitely keep making those payments!

@McKenzie Shade - You can breathe easy! Your $2,200 debt is nowhere near the $55,000 threshold that would trigger passport restrictions. I went through something similar last year when I owed about $3,800 and was panicking about a work trip to Europe. Called the IRS frantically and they confirmed the debt amount has to be "seriously delinquent" (their exact words) before they notify the State Department. The delay in your payments showing up online is totally normal - mine took almost a month to appear in the system. Keep your payment confirmations just in case, but you should be good to go for your May trip. Once you get back, definitely try to get that formal payment plan set up when their systems are working again. It'll give you peace of mind and protect you from any future issues. Have a great vacation!

Don't forget to document EVERYTHING if you're claiming a partial exemption. We sold our house 4 months short of the 2-year mark due to a family health emergency, and the IRS initially questioned our exemption. What saved us was having thorough documentation: doctor's letters explaining the necessity of the move, correspondence showing when we made the decision, and a clear timeline of events. We also kept all receipts for home improvements to increase our cost basis. Also, TurboTax has a specific section for calculating partial exemptions that was actually pretty helpful for us. We ended up paying some capital gains tax but much less than we would have without the partial exemption.

Another option to explore is the "safe harbor" test for unforeseen circumstances. The IRS specifically lists certain situations that automatically qualify, including: - Death of a family member - Divorce or legal separation - Multiple births from the same pregnancy - Becoming eligible for unemployment compensation - Change in employment that leaves you unable to pay housing costs The "multiple births" provision might be relevant if you're having twins! Also, if the cost of living increase has genuinely made your current housing unaffordable (especially with childcare costs), you might qualify under the unemployment/inability to pay provision. I'd strongly recommend getting a consultation with a tax professional who specializes in real estate transactions before making your final decision. The potential tax savings from finding the right exemption could easily pay for professional advice, and they can help you document your case properly if you do qualify for a partial exemption. Given your timeline and the amounts involved, this is definitely worth professional guidance rather than trying to navigate it alone.

I went through this exact situation last year with accounts in Germany that I'd forgotten about. The partial account number approach with "XX" really does work - I used "4567XX" format and included a brief explanation in the additional information section. One thing that helped me was contacting the bank via their secure online messaging system rather than phone. Sometimes they're more willing to provide account details through their encrypted messaging platforms since it creates a paper trail. Also, if you have any old debit or credit cards from those accounts, the account number is sometimes printed on the back in small text. The most important thing is to file the amended FBAR as soon as possible. I was worried about penalties too, but since I was proactively correcting an honest mistake and could show I made reasonable efforts to get complete information, there were no issues. The IRS really does seem to focus penalties on people who are trying to hide accounts, not those making good faith efforts to comply.

I'd also recommend checking if you have any old tax preparation software files or documents that might contain the account information. Sometimes when we're preparing taxes, we enter foreign account details into tax software like TurboTax or similar programs, and those files might still have the complete account numbers stored. Another avenue to explore - if you worked for a company abroad and they helped you set up those accounts, your former employer's HR department might have records. Companies sometimes keep copies of banking setup documents for their international employees, especially if they were involved in direct deposit arrangements. The key thing everyone's mentioned here is absolutely right - document everything you're doing to try to get the complete information. I'd even suggest sending a formal written request to the bank (not just phone calls) so you have a paper trail showing they refused to provide the full account numbers. This kind of documentation really strengthens your case that you're making every reasonable effort to comply with FBAR requirements.

8 Just want to mention that if you're from a country that has a tax treaty with the US, that can sometimes override the substantial presence test. I'm from India, and even though I qualified as a resident alien under the usual rules, certain income was treated differently because of the treaty. Check out IRS Publication 901 (Tax Treaties) to see if your home country has a treaty that might affect your situation. It could potentially save you a lot in taxes!

4 One thing nobody mentioned yet - if you're a resident alien, you might need to file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) if you have foreign bank accounts that exceed $10,000 combined at any point during the year. Non-resident aliens don't have this requirement. This is separate from your tax return and has serious penalties if you're required to file but don't. The deadline is April 15 but it automatically extends to October 15.