Quick question about the mailing process - how do you actually submit 6 years worth of returns? Should I mail them all together or separately? I've heard mixed things.

Just to add another perspective on the 6-year requirement - while the IRS typically focuses on the last 6 years for compliance purposes, the specific years can depend on your situation. If you haven't filed any returns, they generally want 2018-2023 (counting back from when 2023 returns were due). However, if you filed some years but not others, they might focus on just the missing years. Also worth noting that if you had very low income (below the filing threshold) for certain years, you might not have been required to file at all - though you'd miss out on potential refunds like the Earned Income Tax Credit. Given that you mentioned mostly gig work around $25k annually, you were likely required to file (especially with self-employment income over $400), but you probably are due refunds for most years. I'd recommend starting with 2021-2023 since those are the only years you can still claim refunds for, then tackle the older years for compliance. Good luck with getting everything sorted before your mortgage application!

Has anyone tried just calling the SSA instead of the IRS? They have all the W-2 info too and sometimes their phone lines aren't as busy. Worked for me last year when I couldn't get my W-2 from a company that went out of business.

Don't panic - you're definitely not out of luck! Missing W-2s are more common than you think, especially from older jobs. Here's what I'd recommend doing in order of priority: 1. **Start with the IRS wage transcript** - This is your best bet. You can get it instantly online at irs.gov if you can verify your identity, or request it by mail with Form 4506-T. It'll show all the federal tax info that was reported on your W-2. 2. **Try contacting the restaurant** - Even with new ownership, they might have access to old payroll records or can direct you to whoever handled payroll back then. Sometimes the payroll company keeps records even after businesses change hands. 3. **Check your state tax agency** - They often have wage information too and sometimes their systems are easier to navigate than the IRS. 4. **Last resort: Form 4852** - If you absolutely can't get the actual numbers, you can file this substitute form with your best estimates based on your bank statements. Since you're dealing with a 2-year-old return, there's no rush penalty for filing late if you're owed a refund (which you likely are given your income level). But if you owe money, there could be penalties and interest, so it's good you're getting this sorted out now. The fact that you have your bank statements showing the net deposits is actually really helpful - it gives you a starting point for estimating your gross wages and withholding.

Has anyone actually had their return audited over this issue? I'm in a similar situation (though smaller settlement) and wondering how risky it is to override the 1099-NEC categorization without getting the company to issue a corrected form.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Got a $30k discrimination settlement and the company also sent me a 1099-NEC. My tax preparer told me the same thing - discrimination settlements should NOT be treated as self-employment income. What worked for me was contacting the company's payroll department directly and asking them to issue a corrected 1099-MISC instead of the 1099-NEC. They were surprisingly cooperative once I explained that discrimination settlements aren't business income. It took about 2 weeks to get the corrected form, but it made everything much cleaner for filing. If you can't get a corrected form in time, definitely follow the advice about overriding in your software. Just keep really good documentation - I saved emails with the company about the settlement nature and printed out IRS guidance on discrimination settlement reporting. Better safe than sorry if questions come up later!

I went through something very similar when a small restaurant I worked at suddenly closed without giving anyone their W-2s. Here's what I learned from that experience: The Social Security Administration check is definitely your first step - if nothing shows up there, you know for certain they never reported your wages. Then Form 4852 is your best friend. Don't overthink the income estimation - just be as accurate as you can with the information you have. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: keep detailed records of everything you're doing to resolve this situation. Write down when you tried to contact the employer, what steps you took to get your W-2, etc. The IRS really appreciates seeing that you made good faith efforts to get proper documentation before filing the substitute form. Also, don't forget that you'll probably owe both federal and state income taxes on this unreported income, plus potentially some penalties for underpayment since nothing was withheld. It's worth setting aside some money now so you're not caught off guard when you file. The important thing is that you're taking care of it properly rather than trying to hide it.

I've been through this exact situation myself and want to emphasize something that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you also check if your state has any additional requirements for reporting this type of income situation. When I had to use Form 4852 for a similar issue with a closed business, my state (California) required me to also file a separate state form explaining the missing W-2 situation. Some states are more strict about documentation than others, so it's worth calling your state's tax department or checking their website to see if they have specific procedures. Also, if you remember approximately when you were paid throughout the year, try to break down your estimated income by quarters when you fill out the substitute form. This can help minimize any underpayment penalties since the IRS calculates those based on when income was actually earned versus when taxes were paid. Even rough estimates like "I earned about $X in Q1, $Y in Q2" etc. can make a difference in the penalty calculation. The good news is that once you get through this process, you'll have all the documentation you need and won't have to worry about this particular income being questioned later. The IRS really does work with people who are making honest efforts to comply.

Have u already entered the business as inactive or closed in TurboTax? Sometimes thats all u need to do and it will stop asking for forms. I had this issue last yr with schedule C stuff from my etsy shop that i closed in 2021.

This is a really common issue with TurboTax! Since you haven't had any business income since 2019 and the business is essentially closed, you shouldn't need Form 8895. The problem is that TurboTax is probably still treating your business as "active" in its system. Here's what I'd recommend trying first: Go to the Business section in TurboTax, find your business entity, and look for an option to mark it as "closed" or "inactive." This should stop TurboTax from requiring forms related to ongoing business operations. If that doesn't work, you have a few other options that people have mentioned here - the taxr.ai tool seems to help people figure out exactly what's triggering these form requirements, or you could try calling the IRS directly (though Claimyr might save you the hold time). The good news is you definitely don't need to wait until January 19th to file your return if your business has been inactive for years. There's just a setting somewhere that needs to be updated to reflect your current situation.