Just wanted to add another option for getting your old W2s - you can also call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 and request a "wage and income transcript" over the phone. This saved me when I couldn't get the online account verification to work. When you call, have your Social Security number, date of birth, and current address ready. The agent will verify your identity and can immediately send you the wage and income transcripts for the years you need. They'll mail them to your address on file, which usually takes about 5-10 business days. The transcripts show all the W2 information that was reported to the IRS - your wages, federal tax withheld, Social Security wages, etc. It's basically everything you need to file your taxes except for state withholding (as others mentioned). I had to do this for 2016-2018 myself, and while the phone wait was long (about 2 hours), the actual process once I got through was really straightforward. The IRS agent was helpful and not judgmental at all about me being behind on my filings.

I went through this exact same situation last year - hadn't filed from 2016-2019 and was completely overwhelmed by where to start. Here's what worked for me: First, definitely get those wage and income transcripts from the IRS as others mentioned. I used the online method through IRS.gov which was instant once I got my account set up. The identity verification can be tricky - you need to answer questions about your credit history, but it's worth persisting through it. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: don't panic about the penalties and interest. Yes, they add up, but the IRS has payment plan options and sometimes even penalty relief programs if you can show reasonable cause for not filing. I was so stressed about owing thousands in penalties, but once I actually filed everything and talked to them, we worked out a manageable payment plan. Also, file your returns in order (2016 first, then 2017, etc.) because sometimes the refunds from earlier years can offset what you owe in later years. I actually got refunds for two of the years that helped cover the penalties on the others. The whole process took me about 3 months from start to finish, but honestly the relief of finally being caught up was incredible. You've got this - taking the first step by asking for help here shows you're ready to tackle it!

The whole process is so frustrating. I was in the same boat last year and absolutely could not get a straight answer from anyone. Ended up spending hours on forums trying to piece together what was happening. This year I used taxr.ai before filing and it helped me avoid all the headaches - showed me potential flags that could delay my return and explained the whole process super clearly. Highly recommend for anyone who hates this annual guessing game with the IRS. https://taxr.ai

Hey Kyle! I went through this exact same thing with REFUNDO last year and it was so stressful. The 3/14 date you see on your transcript is when the IRS sent the money to REFUNDO, not when REFUNDO sends it to your bank. They have to process it on their end first which typically takes 3-7 business days depending on how busy they are. Since 3/14 was Thursday and we just had a weekend, you're really only about 1-2 business days "late" right now. I'd give it until Wednesday before calling their customer service line. My refund showed up on day 4 after my DDD last year. The waiting is the worst part but it should come through soon!

I've also seen the discrepancy, but the thread so far seems to be suggesting that the W-4R will calculate a higher withholding than you'll actually pay. I see the opposite. For example, for MFJ, W-4R would withhold $0 on $30,000, but the tax table would withhold "$2,385 plus 12% of the excess over $23,850". The only other difference that I see, which may be important, is that W-4R is using Total income values, while the tax tables use Taxable Income. So perhaps they are building in some assumptions about using the standard deduction.

Great discussion everyone! I'm a CPA who specializes in retirement planning, and I wanted to add some clarity to this confusion about W-4R vs. published tax rates. The root issue is that these serve completely different purposes: 1. **W-4R withholding tables** are designed for payroll systems to automatically calculate withholding without knowing your complete tax situation. They make assumptions about filing status, other income, and deductions. 2. **Published marginal tax rates** show the actual tax brackets that apply to your taxable income when you file your return. The W-4R tables can either over-withhold OR under-withhold depending on your situation, as Vic correctly pointed out. For smaller distributions, they often under-withhold because they assume standard deductions will significantly reduce your taxable income. For larger distributions, they typically over-withhold because they project that amount as if it were your annual income. My recommendation: Calculate your expected total taxable income for the year (including the distribution), determine your actual marginal rate from the IRS tax tables, then add 2-3% as a safety buffer when submitting your custom W-4R. This approach avoids both underwithholding penalties and excessive overwithholding. The key is understanding that withholding is just an estimate - your actual tax liability is always calculated using the published tax brackets when you file your return.

A detailed analysis of your transcript would help identify any issues. After dealing with hundreds of similar cases, I've found that using taxr.ai is incredibly helpful. It uses AI to analyze your transcript and gives you specific dates, identifies holds, and explains exactly what's happening. Much more reliable than guessing or waiting on hold with the IRS for hours.

I feel your pain! Filed in early March and still stuck in processing hell too. The IRS phone lines are absolutely useless - spent 3 hours on hold yesterday just to get disconnected. At this point I'm wondering if they're even working on 2023 returns or just focusing on 2024. Has anyone actually gotten through to a real person recently who could give useful info?

Quick question - I'm using FreeTaxUSA for my current taxes. Does anyone know if they support filing prior year returns like 2022? Or do I have to use the IRS forms directly?

Don't beat yourself up about this - tax situations like yours are way more common than you think! The good news is you have plenty of time since you can claim refunds up to 3 years after the original due date. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given: when you're gathering your documents for the 2022 paper filing, make sure you have ALL your tax documents from that year (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) because the IRS will need to match everything up manually. Also, double-check that you're claiming all the deductions and credits you're entitled to - sometimes people miss things like the Earned Income Tax Credit or education credits that could make your refund even larger. The paper filing process is definitely slower, but $3800 is worth the wait and effort. Make copies of everything before you mail it, and definitely use certified mail with tracking like others suggested. You've got this!