Just drive over there! If they're only 15 mins away and you've already tried texting, just stop by in person and ask for a copy. They're legally required to give it to you, and it's harder for them to ignore you when you're standing right there lol.

Another thing to consider - if you have your final paystub from December, it should have your year-to-date totals for wages and tax withholdings. While it's not a perfect replacement for your W-2, you can use those numbers to estimate what you'll owe or get back as a refund. This might help you decide if it's worth waiting longer or if you need to be more aggressive about getting the actual W-2. Also, if you do end up having to file Form 4852 (the W-2 substitute), make sure to keep trying to get the real W-2 even after you file. If the numbers end up being different, you might need to file an amended return later. But at least you won't miss the filing deadline!

I'm an accountant and see this ALL THE TIME this year. There are massive delays with several banks including Credit Karma. The issue is volume - the IRS is processing refunds in batches and some batches are getting delayed on the receiving end. Nothing to worry about yet, but if it goes beyond 5 business days from your DDD, then call the IRS directly to confirm it was actually sent.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation! DDD of 3/15 with Credit Karma and still waiting. After reading through all these comments, it sounds like CK is doing extra verification holds this year without notifying people. I'm going to try contacting them through the app chat specifically asking about holds like some people suggested. It's so frustrating when you're counting on that money and the bank doesn't even tell you there's an issue! Hopefully we all get our refunds soon. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - makes me feel less alone in this mess.

Just adding my experience here - I was in almost the exact same situation last year with 3 different employers where I left on terrible terms. One place I literally never went back after lunch break because the supervisor was so abusive. Here's what actually worked for me: I started with the mail forwarding (which you already did - good move!), then systematically contacted each company's HR department via email. I kept it super short and professional: "Hi, I'm a former employee from [dates] and need my W-2 sent to my current address. My SSN is XXX-XX-XXXX and my current address is [address]. Please confirm receipt of this request." The key was NOT mentioning why I left or trying to explain anything. Just treated it like a routine business request. 3 out of 4 companies responded within a week and sent updated W-2s. For the one that didn't respond, I called the IRS after February 15th and they handled it. Also pro tip - if you have any old pay stubs from these jobs, keep them handy. They have a lot of the info you'll need if you have to file Form 4852 or talk to the IRS. Don't let the awkwardness of how you left prevent you from getting your tax documents - HR departments deal with this stuff all the time and honestly don't care about workplace drama.

I've been following this thread because I'm in a nearly identical situation! Left 4 jobs last year, two of them pretty dramatically (one where I got into a shouting match with my supervisor and just walked out). What's helped me so far is combining several of the strategies mentioned here. I started with the professional email approach that @Mateo Gonzalez suggested - kept it super brief and business-like without any reference to how I left. Got responses from 2 out of 4 companies within a week. For the two that didn't respond, I'm planning to wait until after February 15th and use Claimyr to get through to the IRS if needed. The success stories people shared here convinced me it's worth trying before spending hours on hold myself. One additional tip: I found that LinkedIn can be helpful for finding the right HR contact at companies where you're not sure who handles payroll. You can often find the HR manager or accounting person's name and email format without having to call the main line and potentially talk to someone you had issues with. The key insight from this thread is that this is way more common than we think, and there are multiple backup options if employers are uncooperative. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's made this whole situation feel much less overwhelming!

According to the official IRS refund timeline at IRS.gov/refunds, most tax returns are processed within 21 days. The PATH Act creates an exception for returns with certain credits, but they should still be actively processing your return. The IRS's "Where's My Refund" tool isn't always accurate during the PATH delay period - that's just how their system works. I've had returns with the PATH message that processed without any issues after the holding period ended.

Hey Elijah! As someone who's been through this process multiple times, I can totally understand your anxiety. The good news is that if there were major issues with your return, you likely would have received a notice by now - the IRS is pretty quick to send letters when they need additional information or find errors. Since you filed on 1/30 and it's been over a month, here's what I'd suggest: definitely check your tax transcript online if you haven't already. It often shows more detailed processing information than the "Where's My Refund" tool. Look for any processing codes that might give you clues about what's happening. The PATH Act can be really frustrating, especially for first-time filers, but try not to panic. Many returns sit in this limbo for weeks without any actual problems. That said, if you want peace of mind, you could try calling the IRS directly - though be prepared for long wait times during tax season. Good luck!

Great point about account types! Just to add some clarity for anyone reading - if this is a Roth IRA, the rules are different too. With Roth accounts, you can withdraw your original contributions (basis) at any time tax-free, but earnings withdrawals before age 59½ may be subject to taxes and penalties. For taxable accounts like the original poster seems to be describing, the proportional method mentioned earlier is typically the default, but as others have noted, you might have options like specific identification that could be more tax-efficient depending on your situation. Keep detailed records of all your transactions including dates, amounts, and any reinvested dividends - this will make basis calculations much easier whether you do them manually or use software to help.

One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're dealing with partial withdrawals regularly, it might be worth considering tax-loss harvesting strategies alongside your basis calculations. When you're withdrawing from investments that have gains, you could potentially sell other investments at a loss to offset some of the taxable gains. Also, timing can matter. If you've held the investment for less than a year, you'll pay short-term capital gains rates (taxed as ordinary income), but if you've held it for more than a year, you'll get the more favorable long-term capital gains rates. In your example with the $160 taxable gain using the proportional method, this rate difference could be significant depending on your income bracket. Just make sure you don't run into wash sale rules if you're planning to repurchase similar investments within 30 days of selling at a loss.