I feel your pain with the BSO system! I went through the exact same nightmare last year with my part-time housekeeper's W-2. The BSO site kept eating my EIN information and giving me those cryptic error messages. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I used the SSA's free Fillable Forms system (mentioned by Isla) to generate the W-2s, then called my local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center directly instead of the main hotline. The local office was way more helpful and actually walked me through registering my EIN properly over the phone. For your nanny's immediate needs, you can give her a copy of her final paystub along with a handwritten summary of her total wages and withholdings for the year. This won't replace the official W-2, but it'll help her get started on her taxes if she's in a rush. She can always amend later once you get the proper forms sorted out. The penalties for late W-2s are definitely annoying but not devastating - I ended up paying $60 since I got mine out within 30 days of the deadline. The key is just getting it done as soon as possible rather than continuing to fight with broken systems!

Just wanted to jump in and share what finally worked for me after dealing with this exact BSO nightmare for weeks! I ended up using a combination of the suggestions mentioned here. First, I tried the SSA Fillable Forms approach that Isla mentioned, which worked great for generating the actual W-2 forms. Then I followed Oliver's advice about calling the local Taxpayer Assistance Center - game changer! The local office was so much more helpful than the main IRS line, and they confirmed that there's definitely a widespread BSO issue affecting household employers right now. The representative told me that many people are having the exact same EIN registration problems you described, where the system accepts the information but then loses it when you log back in. They said it's a known bug they're working on, but there's no timeline for when it'll be fixed. For the immediate solution: I used the SSA fillable forms to create all the W-2 copies, printed the employee copies on regular paper, and ordered the official red-ink Copy A forms from an office supply store. The whole process took maybe 2 hours once I stopped trying to make BSO work. The late filing penalty ended up being $60 per W-2 since I got everything submitted within 30 days, which honestly felt like a small price to pay for ending the stress! My nanny was just happy to finally get her W-2 so she could finish her taxes. Don't give up - there are definitely workarounds even when the official systems fail!

bruh the IRS be playing games fr. they take our money instantly but make us wait forever to get it back 💀

Been through this exact same situation! The 11/08 date is definitely when they mail it out, not when you'll receive it. I'd expect it to arrive anywhere between 11/13-11/17 depending on your location. Also keep in mind that if there are any postal holidays during that time it might add an extra day or two. The wait is brutal but you're almost there!

Anyone know if the interest deduction limits are different if you bought your house in a high-cost area? I've heard something about exceptions for certain housing markets.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you're calculating that average balance, make sure you're using the principal balance only, not the total payment amount. Your Form 1098 should show the outstanding principal balance at year-end, but if you're calculating monthly averages, don't include the interest portion of your payments. Also, keep all your mortgage statements and closing documents organized in case the auditor asks for backup documentation. They'll want to see proof that the loan was actually used to purchase your home (not a cash-out refi for other purposes). Since you bought in 2022, your closing disclosure should clearly show this was acquisition debt. The fact that you're being thorough about this now will definitely help your audit go more smoothly!

Has anyone actually received a paper check after their direct deposit was rejected? I'm in week 12 of waiting and starting to think the IRS just keeps our money if the bank account is closed!!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! My refund was sent to a closed Chase account in February and I didn't get my paper check until mid-May - so about 14 weeks total. The most frustrating part was that the IRS phone system kept telling me my refund had been "sent" without mentioning it was rejected. What finally helped was filing Form 3911 (Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund) after the 10-week mark. This form basically forces the IRS to do a trace on your refund and can help speed things up. You can download it from IRS.gov and either mail it in or fax it to them. Also, make absolutely sure your current address is on file with them. Even though you said it's correct on your return, double-check by looking at your IRS online account or calling them. Sometimes there are formatting issues or apartment numbers that get dropped that can cause delivery problems. Hang in there - the money isn't lost, it's just stuck in their incredibly slow bureaucratic process!

Has anyone tried just going old school and requesting the 1099 to be mailed? I gave up on the portal nonsense and called the company directly. They seemed confused why I couldn't find it online but agreed to mail me a paper copy. Should arrive in 5-7 business days they said.

I ran into this same exact problem earlier this year! Turns out many companies redesigned their tax portals after the 2023 filing season and moved things around without much notice. Here's what worked for me: try logging out completely and logging back in - sometimes the new interface doesn't load properly on cached sessions. Also check if there's a "View Full Site" or "Desktop Version" link if you're on mobile, as some of the download options only show up in the full desktop view. If all else fails, most companies are required to have the forms available by January 31st, so you can always call their HR or payroll department directly and request they email you a copy or point you to the right location. Don't stress too much - you're definitely not the only one dealing with these confusing interface changes!