Can you reach out to any other family members who might be able to help as a go-between? Sometimes having a neutral third party can help in these situations. Otherwise Form 4852 is exactly what it's designed for - situations where you can't get a W-2 but need to file your taxes.

I'm dealing with a similar family business situation right now, so I really feel for you. One thing that might help is checking if your family's business uses any payroll service like ADP, Paychex, or QuickBooks Payroll. Sometimes you can get your W-2 directly from the payroll company's website even if you can't contact your employer directly. Also, if you have any old login credentials for a payroll portal or employee self-service site, those might still work. I was able to download my W-2 from our family business's ADP portal even after leaving because they never deactivated my account. If those options don't work, Form 4852 really is your best bet. The IRS designed it specifically for situations like yours where getting the W-2 isn't realistic. Just be as accurate as possible with your estimates and keep any documentation you have (paystubs, bank deposits, etc.) in case they ask questions later.

One thing nobody's mentioned - what type of business entity are you? Is it an LLC, an S-Corp, a C-Corp? This makes a HUGE difference for how you can be classified! If you're a C-Corp, you're definitely an employee regardless of being a co-founder. If you're an LLC, you could be treated as a partner for tax purposes. S-Corps are somewhere in between. Also, does your employment agreement include anything about being "at will"? If so, that's another strong indicator you're an employee, not a partner.

This is a classic case of worker misclassification that I see way too often in startups. Your CEO doesn't get to unilaterally decide you're a "partner" just because it's more convenient for payroll taxes. The IRS has very specific criteria for determining worker classification, and having equity doesn't automatically make you a partner. Key factors include: - Do you have a written employment agreement? ✓ (You do) - Are you paid a regular salary vs. profit distributions? ✓ (You get $125k salary) - Does the company control how you do your work? ✓ (Likely as CTO) - Have you been receiving W-2s? ✓ (You mentioned you have one) All of these point strongly toward employee status. Your equity is just additional compensation, not a change in your fundamental relationship with the company. I'd strongly recommend pushing back on this change. If your CEO insists on reclassifying you, demand that he consult with both a tax attorney and accountant first. Improper worker classification can result in significant penalties for the business - back taxes, interest, and fines that could seriously hurt your startup. Don't let him shift the tax burden to you without proper legal justification. You signed an employment agreement for a reason!

I'm also waiting on my 2/26 DDD with PNC! Been checking obsessively since yesterday. Reading through all these comments is making me feel so much better knowing I'm not alone in this anxiety. The waiting is seriously the worst part - especially when you're counting on that money for bills like you mentioned. At least now I know PNC is super consistent about posting exactly on the DDD date and not early like some other banks. Fingers crossed we both wake up to good news tomorrow morning! 🤞

I'm in the exact same boat! Filed on 2/12, got my DDD of 2/26, and have been checking my PNC account every few hours today. It's so frustrating seeing people with online banks getting their refunds days early while we're stuck waiting for the exact date. But reading through all these comments from other PNC customers is really reassuring - sounds like they're super consistent about posting right on the DDD, usually in the early morning hours. I'm going to try to be patient and check first thing tomorrow morning. The waiting game is honestly the worst part of tax season! At least we're all in this together 😅

Hey Freya, congrats on finally getting that 846 code! As someone who's been through this waiting game multiple times, I can definitely relate to the "molasses flowing uphill" analogy - that's exactly what it feels like! 😂 I filed on 3/4 this year and I'm still stuck in processing limbo, so seeing your timeline gives me hope that mine might update soon too. It's interesting how the IRS batches seem to work - sometimes people who file later get processed first, and vice versa. Thanks for sharing your timeline as a data point - these real experiences are way more helpful than the generic "21 days" message we always get. Hopefully your direct deposit hits your account tomorrow or Friday!

Congratulations on getting your 846 code, Freya! That's such a relief after the waiting game. I filed on 3/7 (just one day after you) and I'm still stuck in processing hell, so this gives me hope that mine might be coming soon too. Your "molasses flowing uphill" comparison is spot on - I've been describing it as watching paint dry in slow motion! 😂 Quick question though - when you check your transcript, do you see just the 846 code or are there other transaction codes showing up too? I'm trying to learn how to read these things better. Also, did you have any complications with your return or was it pretty standard? Mine was straightforward this year (no EITC, no amendments, just W-2s and standard deduction) so I'm hoping I'm not too far behind you in the queue. Thanks for posting this update - it's so much more helpful than the generic IRS "where's my refund" tool that just keeps saying "still processing" with no actual timeline!

in the same boat rn. day 22 of waiting 😤

Check with your state's tax department website - most have a "Where's My Refund" tool that'll show if it's been mailed and when. At 3 weeks you should be getting close! Paper checks usually take 4-6 weeks total from filing to mailbox, so you're in the normal range.