Late to this thread but if ur still looking for those W2s u should try checking the IRS website directly. The IRS actually gets copies of W2s from employers and sometimes u can access them through the "Get Transcript" feature on irs.gov if your employer actually submitted them to the IRS. Saved me last year when my W2 got lost in the mail!!

Another option if you're still stuck is to check if either ByteWave or DataCrunch use a third-party payroll provider like ADP, Paychex, or Workday. Many employees don't realize they can often access their W-2s directly through these systems even when HR isn't responding. Try logging into any payroll portals you used while employed - sometimes the W-2s are automatically posted there in January even if the company doesn't proactively send them out. You might also want to check if either company has been acquired or merged with another company, which could explain the communication issues. If all else fails and you need to file soon, I'd recommend the combination approach others mentioned: use the IRS contact services to get official pressure on your employers while simultaneously using your final paystubs to prepare your return as a backup. Having multiple strategies running parallel will give you the best chance of meeting filing deadlines without stress.

Check if you got any letters in the mail. Sometimes they send verification requests but don't update the system right away

Code 570 with all question marks is definitely frustrating! I went through the exact same thing last year. The question marks just mean your return hasn't hit those processing milestones yet - it's still in the review queue. From my experience, the combination of 570 + delay message usually means they're doing some kind of verification check. Could be income matching with your employer's W-2s, or they might be cross-referencing something with previous years. The 3+ week timeframe you're at is pretty typical for these holds unfortunately. Mine took about 5 weeks total before it cleared and I got my refund date. Just keep checking your transcript daily - once it moves, things usually happen pretty quickly after that. Hang in there! The IRS is definitely slower this year but your refund will come through 🤞

Has anyone tried negotiating an Offer in Compromise? I've heard mixed things about how difficult they are to get approved.

I went through something very similar last year - owed about $6,200 in back taxes from miscalculating my freelance income. The panic you're feeling is totally normal, but I promise it's more manageable than it seems right now! Here's what I learned: Don't wait to take action. The longer you wait, the more interest and penalties pile up. I called the IRS directly (took forever to get through, but worth it) and set up a payment plan immediately. They were actually pretty reasonable to work with once I got someone on the phone. A few practical tips: - Gather all your tax documents before calling so you can answer questions quickly - If you can pay it off within 3-4 years, definitely go for the installment agreement - Ask about penalty abatement right away - they reduced about $400 in penalties for me since it was my first major issue - Consider having a tax pro review your situation to make sure there aren't any deductions you missed The payment plan I set up was $180/month for 3 years. Yes, there's interest (around 6% when I did it), but it made the whole thing bearable. The relief I felt after getting it sorted was incredible. You've got this! The hardest part is just taking that first step to address it.

I went through this exact same situation last year and it's so stressful! That "Action Required" message is misleading because like everyone else said, there's literally no action you can take until they send you something in the mail (if they even do). In my case, I waited about 6 weeks with that same message and never got any letter. Finally got through to someone at the IRS who told me they were just doing a routine income verification and my refund was released the next week. The whole thing was basically automated - no actual issue with my return. My advice: definitely check your transcript on IRS.gov if you can get logged in (the verification process is a pain but worth it). If you can't wait and really need the money, try one of those callback services people mentioned or keep trying the IRS phone line early in the morning. But honestly, most of these reviews resolve themselves within 45-60 days even without doing anything. The worst part is how they word it like YOU need to do something when really they're just telling you to sit tight. Super poor communication on their part. Hang in there - your refund will come through!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation! Filed my 2024 return about a month ago and just got hit with that "Action Required" message yesterday. Like everyone else is saying, it's incredibly frustrating because there's literally no action specified - just that vague message about waiting for a potential mail notice. I'm also filing Head of Household with two dependents, and from reading through all these responses, it seems like that's a major trigger for these reviews this year. The IRS appears to be scrutinizing HOH status and child-related credits more heavily. What's really getting to me is the uncertainty - not knowing if this will take 6 weeks or 6 months. I've been checking the status obsessively but clearly that's not helping my stress levels! Going to try accessing my transcript on IRS.gov to see if I can get more specific information about what codes are showing up. Thanks for starting this thread - it's oddly comforting to know so many of us are stuck in this same confusing limbo. The "Action Required" wording really needs to be changed to something more accurate like "Under Review - Please Wait.

I took pics of all my tax forms last year and it worked fine but my refund was delayed because the system misread a number on my W-2. Double check what the software picks up from your photos! The OCR isn't perfect. My software thought a 3 was an 8 and it caused a 3 week delay while the IRS sorted it out.

As someone who's filed taxes both ways, I can confirm that taking photos of your W-2 is perfectly acceptable and won't delay your refund timing as long as the image quality is good. The key is making sure all the numbers are clearly readable - especially the amounts in the wage boxes and your employer's EIN number. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given: after you take the photo and the software processes it, always do a side-by-side comparison with your physical W-2 before submitting. I've caught several OCR errors over the years where the software misread a number (like a 6 as a 5, or mixing up similar-looking digits). Taking an extra 2 minutes to verify can save you weeks of delay later. Your dad's concern probably comes from a generational difference in comfort with digital financial processes, but photo submission is now the standard method for most tax prep services. Just make sure you're using the official H&R Block app rather than a third-party camera app for better security and processing accuracy.