Don't forget that your employer legally has to provide your W-2 by January 31st. If they haven't, they're actually violating tax law. Maybe try emailing or calling them and mention this deadline - sometimes just letting them know you're aware of the legal requirement can light a fire under them!

Great advice in this thread! Just wanted to add that if you do end up needing to file Form 4852 (substitute W-2), make sure to keep detailed records of everything - your final pay stub, any correspondence with the employer, dates you tried to contact them, etc. The IRS may ask for documentation later to support your substitute form. Also, one thing I learned the hard way - if your short-term job was in a different state than your main job, you might need to file tax returns in both states. Each state has different rules about when you need to file, so double-check the requirements for wherever that summer job was located. Some states require filing even for small amounts of income. Good luck with getting this sorted out! It's stressful but definitely manageable with the right approach.

To directly answer your question - IRS computers automatically match all W2s to tax returns. If you leave one out, you'll almost definitely get a letter from the IRS eventually (called a CP2000 notice) saying you underreported income. They'll recalculate your taxes, add interest and possibly penalties, and send you a bill for the difference. It's WAY easier to just include it now than deal with that headache later!

As someone who works in tax preparation, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - you absolutely MUST include ALL W2s, no matter how small. The IRS has an automated matching system that compares W2s from employers to what you report on your return. Here's what happens if you leave it out: The IRS will eventually send you a CP2000 notice (usually 12-18 months later) showing the discrepancy. They'll recalculate your tax, add the missing income, charge interest from the original due date, and possibly add penalties for underreporting. For your $1,688 W2, you're probably looking at maybe $200-400 in additional tax (depending on your bracket), but if you get caught later, you could owe that PLUS interest and penalties that could easily double the amount. The good news is that if taxes were withheld from that small job, you might actually get some of that back as a refund! Many people are surprised to find they get money back when they include all their W2s correctly. Just file it properly now - any tax software will handle multiple W2s easily. It's really not worth the risk of trying to hide it.

just fyi for anyone reading this - i applied for an itin by myself last year and it was actually not that hard. filled out W-7 form, attached my tax return, went to my countries consulate to get certified copies of my passport (didn't have to mail original), and sent everything to the address on the form. took about 8 weeks but got my itin no problem. saved like $300 that a tax preparer wanted to charge me lol

One thing I learned from my ITIN application experience is to double-check which exception category you fall under before submitting. The IRS has 13 different exceptions that allow you to apply for an ITIN without submitting a tax return at the same time (like if you're subject to backup withholding, or opening a bank account, etc.). I initially thought I had to file a tax return with my ITIN application, but it turns out I qualified for exception (d) because I was receiving income subject to tax treaty benefits. This saved me from having to prepare a tax return before getting my ITIN. The exceptions are listed in the W-7 instructions, but they're not super clear about when each one applies to your situation. Also, if you do need to submit original documents and you're worried about mailing your passport, you can send it via certified mail with return receipt requested. The IRS recommends this and it gives you tracking plus proof of delivery.

I'm currently going through something similar - got my audit notice last month for dependent verification. One thing I learned early on is to organize everything by dependent and by requirement. The IRS typically wants proof of four things: relationship, residency, age, and support. For relationship: birth certificates, adoption papers, or court custody documents. For residency: school enrollment records, medical records with your address, or utility bills showing the dependent lived with you. For age: birth certificates usually cover this. For support: keep receipts for food, clothing, medical expenses, school costs - anything showing you provided more than half their support. Timeline-wise, mine has been about 2.5 months so far and still ongoing. The initial response took them 6 weeks to acknowledge, then they requested additional documentation. Now I'm waiting again. The key is staying proactive - don't just wait for them to respond. Call every few weeks to check status and make sure nothing got lost in their system. Also, if you're dealing with divorced parents or split custody situations, get copies of your divorce decree or custody agreement. That was the game-changer in my case - clearly showed which years I had the right to claim.

I just went through a dependent verification audit that wrapped up last month, so this is all very fresh for me! A few things I wish I had known upfront: First, the IRS audit letter will include a specific Information Document Request (IDR) that lists exactly what they want to see. Don't go overboard collecting every document you can think of - focus on what they're specifically asking for. In my case, they were questioning whether my stepson qualified as my dependent, so they wanted proof of the support test and residency. Second, the timeline really depends on how complete your initial response is. My first submission was missing a few key pieces (I didn't include utility bills showing my stepson's address matched mine), so they sent a second request. That added another 6 weeks to the process. But once I sent everything they needed, they closed the case within 3 weeks with a "no change" letter. Third, if you're claiming head of household status based on these dependents, that might also be under review. They didn't mention it in my initial letter, but it came up during a phone call with the examiner. Make sure you have documentation supporting your filing status too. The whole process took about 4.5 months from first letter to resolution, but like I said, that included my incomplete first response. If you're organized from the start, you can probably cut that timeline significantly. One last tip: scan everything before you send it. The IRS has been known to lose documentation, and you'll want copies for your records anyway.

One more tip from my experience: if you're applying for an ITIN with a tax return that shows a refund due, don't expect that refund anytime soon. Mine took 11 months to process because ITIN applications with returns go through special handling. This was in 2024 for the 2023 tax year, so pretty recent experience. Just plan your finances accordingly!

Maya, I went through this exact process last year as a nonresident alien and totally understand your stress! Here are some key points that helped me: 1. **Document verification options**: You absolutely don't have to mail your original passport. I used a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) who verified my documents and sent certified copies instead. Much safer! 2. **Timing your US visit**: Since you'll be in the US next month, you could visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center that offers document authentication services. Call 844-545-5640 to find one near where you'll be staying and schedule an appointment. 3. **Simultaneous processing**: You can submit your W-7 and tax return together - no need to wait for the ITIN first. However, be aware that if you're expecting a refund, the processing time can be significantly longer (up to 11 months based on recent experiences shared here). 4. **Income type matters**: Make sure you're filing the correct forms for your US-source income. As a nonresident alien, you'll likely need Form 1040-NR, but the specific requirements depend on your income type. The process is definitely manageable once you understand the options. The key is choosing the right document verification method for your situation. Good luck!