Thanks for the advice! I do have my last paystub from December that shows all the YTD withholding amounts. It's very clear taxes were taken out. I'm going to try reaching the payroll department directly tomorrow morning. Do I need to wait for the corrected W-2 before filing, or is there some way to file with my paystub information?

Definitely wait for the corrected W-2 if possible. Your employer should be able to generate a corrected form fairly quickly once you point out the error. If they're really dragging their feet and the tax deadline is approaching, you can file using Form 4852 (Substitute for W-2) using the information from your paystubs. But this should be a last resort since it can delay processing of your return and might trigger extra verification from the IRS.

That's a good point about checking employment status, but the OP mentioned they saw tax withholding on their paystubs throughout the year, which wouldn't happen for a 1099 contractor. Sounds like a W-2 error rather than a misclassification issue.

I'm definitely an employee with a W-2, not a contractor. I've been getting regular paychecks with taxes taken out all year. The W-2 form itself looks correct except for the withholding boxes being empty. I checked with a coworker and their W-2 shows the withholding amounts correctly, so I think it's just an error with mine specifically.

Thanks for this detailed explanation! So if Box 2b is checked (which it is), I need to look back at my contribution history? Is there an easy way to know if my contributions were pre-tax or after-tax? I honestly don't remember since I was at this job 8 years ago.

Yes, if Box 2b is checked, you need to determine the taxable amount yourself. To know if your contributions were pre-tax or after-tax, check your old pay stubs if you have them - pre-tax contributions would have reduced your taxable wages at the time. Another way is to contact your former employer's benefits department - they should have records of whether your plan allowed after-tax contributions and if you made any. If you can't determine this, unfortunately the safest approach is to treat the distribution as fully taxable, though that may result in paying more tax than necessary.

This is such a good point! I messed up my state taxes last year because of this exact issue. My state required me to report the CSF-1099R differently than federal. Ended up having to file an amended state return.

Does mentioning the licensing board actually work? I'm dealing with a similar situation and worried about damaging the relationship with my child's therapist if I come across as threatening.

Mentioning the licensing board isn't meant as a threat but as a gentle reminder of professional standards. I've found it works about 80% of the time because most providers don't want any licensing complications. The key is how you phrase it. Something like "I may need to consult with the licensing board to understand the standard documentation requirements for ABA services" sounds collaborative rather than confrontational. Most therapists will recognize it's easier to provide the documentation than deal with any potential inquiry. Just keep all communication respectful and focused on your legitimate need for tax documentation.

Thank you for sharing this perspective from someone who would know! I'm starting to think her reluctance might be about more than just being disorganized. Would your wife consider it unusual or inappropriate to charge clients for providing payment records? I'm wondering if this is standard practice I'm just not familiar with.

My wife says charging clients for payment records is absolutely NOT standard practice and would be considered highly unprofessional in her field. Providing payment documentation is a basic business responsibility, not an "extra service" that warrants additional fees. In fact, most healthcare providers are moving toward patient portals or automated systems that make accessing payment records easier than ever. Your therapist's response suggests either extreme disorganization or potential tax issues. Either way, if you continue services, I'd recommend immediately switching to a payment method that creates automatic records - checks, electronic transfers, or even credit card payments if possible. The fact she's expanding her practice makes proper financial documentation even more important.

Do you recommend responding to the 4314c letter in any way? Or just wait it out? I got one too after responding to a different notice.

You generally don't need to respond to a 4314c letter unless it specifically requests additional information. It's mainly informational, letting you know they're still working on your case. Just wait it out - responding when no response is required can sometimes confuse matters and potentially delay the process further. If you're approaching the end of the 90 days and haven't heard anything, you could call to check the status, but otherwise just be patient. These letters are frustrating but part of their normal process.

This happened to me too. Even though I paid what the CP2000 said I owed, I still got charged interest during their "review period." Make sure you check any future notices carefully because they might bill you for interest even if you paid the principal amount on time.

18 Did you do it yourself or use a tax professional? I'm wondering if I should just use TurboTax for the back years or if that's a bad idea.

11 I started with a tax professional for the first year just to make sure I understood the process correctly, then did the remaining years myself using tax software. Most tax software can handle prior year returns, though you might need to purchase specific versions for each tax year. For simple W2 income situations, doing it yourself is definitely doable. If there's business income, rental properties, or other complex situations, a tax pro might be worth the money. The main thing is just getting started - the relief of having it done is worth every minute spent on the paperwork.

15 This is so true. My wife had the same anxiety for years about unfiled taxes. She'd literally have panic attacks whenever tax season came around or when she saw IRS-related news. After we finally sorted it out, her general anxiety level dropped dramatically. The psychological burden of carrying that fear is way worse than the actual process of fixing it.