22 You can file without the actual W2 by using Form 4852 (Substitute for Form W2). You'll need your last paystub to estimate your earnings and withholdings. BUT you should only do this after trying to get your W2 from your employer and then contacting the IRS for help. The downside is your refund might be delayed while the IRS verifies your information. If your estimates are significantly off from what your employer reports, you might need to file an amended return later.

5 Thanks for the info! I'll try contacting my employer one more time tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, I'll try the IRS route before using Form 4852. Hopefully I can still get my refund relatively soon - I hate how one missing form can mess up everything!

1 Oh! I didn't think of that! We did use some online system for viewing our paystubs. I'll try logging in tonight to see if I can access it. Hopefully my account is still active even though I don't work there anymore. That would be such an easy solution!

I've heard about the S-Corp strategy but wasn't sure if it would work for an international situation. How complicated was it to set up the S-Corp election? And did you have any issues with paying yourself from US business accounts while living abroad?

Setting up the S-Corp election just requires filing Form 2553 with the IRS. The form itself isn't complex, but timing matters - you generally need to file within 2 months and 15 days of the start of the tax year you want it to take effect. For paying myself while abroad, I maintain both US and local bank accounts. I pay my "official" salary from the business account to my US personal account, then transfer money as needed to my local account. You'll want to document everything clearly - keep records of transfers and maintain separate business and personal accounts. The biggest challenge was figuring out the "reasonable salary" requirement, as it needs to be justifiable if audited. I worked with an accountant to determine an appropriate amount based on comparable roles in my industry.

This is super important! I got hit with double taxation because I didn't properly structure my business activities between the US and Thailand where I was living. There's a tax treaty between US and China that might help avoid double taxation, but you need to know how to properly claim those benefits.

Does the Fresh Start program work if you already have a payment plan from a previous tax issue? I set one up in 2022, then had another problem with my 2023 taxes.

Yes, you can still use Fresh Start provisions if you have a previous payment plan, but you'll likely need to renegotiate your existing agreement to include the new tax debt. The IRS typically combines all outstanding tax debts into a single payment plan. If your total debt is under $50,000, you can usually handle this online through the IRS payment agreement application. If your debt is now over $50,000 with the addition of the new tax issue, you might need to provide more financial information and work with an IRS representative directly. The key is contacting them before they contact you about the new debt - being proactive always looks better and gives you more options.

I used a tax attorney last year for a $15k back tax issue. Cost me $2,500 but he negotiated my penalties down by about $3,200 so it was worth it. The free consultation helped me understand my options before committing to anything. If your situation is pretty straightforward though, you might be fine handling it yourself with an installment agreement.

That's helpful to know about the free consultation option. Did they require payment upfront or could you pay in installments? I'm already stressed about the tax bill so coming up with a big attorney fee right now would be tough.

Is the PTIN requirement just for CPAs or does it apply to all tax preparers? My aunt does taxes on the side and I'm not sure she has this number you mentioned.

The PTIN requirement applies to ALL paid tax preparers, not just CPAs. This includes enrolled agents, tax attorneys, and anyone who prepares tax returns for compensation. The only exception is if someone is preparing returns as an unpaid volunteer. If your aunt charges money for tax preparation services, she legally needs a PTIN. It's not optional - it's a federal requirement. The IRS uses these identification numbers to track preparers and hold them accountable for the returns they submit. Without a PTIN, she shouldn't be charging for tax preparation services at all.

This happened to my coworker too! Their preparer claimed random deductions they weren't eligible for and their refund was huge. They got audited two years later and had to pay everything back plus penalties. The preparer was nowhere to be found by then.

Thank you so much for this specific advice for Robinhood! I just sent the email with that exact subject line and all the details you mentioned. I don't have Twitter but might create an account just for this purpose if I don't hear back soon. Did you have to wait long after sending the email before they responded? I'm getting really nervous as the deadline gets closer.

I got a response within 2 business days to the email. The Twitter route was actually faster - got a response same day, though it took about 3-4 days total to fully resolve the issue. They'll likely ask you to resubmit the form through their secure message center inside the app, which is fine. The important thing is getting your case flagged in their system so it doesn't just sit in the general queue. Once the right department has it, they're actually pretty efficient.

I've had success with this approach too. Most brokerage agreements have an arbitration clause, and just mentioning that you're "reviewing the dispute resolution section of your account agreement" can suddenly make things move much faster. They don't want to deal with the hassle and cost of formal arbitration.