Just wanted to add one more consideration for anyone dealing with RSUs - make sure you check if your company provided any supplemental tax documents beyond just the W2. Some employers issue separate statements that break down exactly which income amounts correspond to which stock transactions, especially if you had multiple vesting dates throughout the year. I had three different RSU vest dates last year and initially tried to figure out the basis for each sale manually. Turned out my company's HR portal had a detailed "Tax Reporting Summary" that showed the exact vesting value for each batch of shares. Made the whole process much easier and gave me confidence I was using the right basis amounts when filing Form 8949. If you can't find this info online, it's worth reaching out to your company's stock plan administrator (usually mentioned on your brokerage statements) - they can often provide the detailed breakdown you need.

This whole thread has been incredibly valuable! I'm in a very similar situation to the original poster - just sold my first batch of RSUs and was really confused about the tax reporting. Reading through everyone's explanations has cleared up so much confusion. One thing I want to emphasize for other newcomers is that the key insight here is understanding that the W2 and 1099-B are reporting different aspects of the same transaction. Your W2 reports the compensation income (the value when the RSUs vested), while the 1099-B reports the investment sale (when you actually sold the shares). They're not duplicating the same income - they're capturing different tax events. I was initially panicking thinking I'd have to pay tax twice on the same money, but now I understand that by using the W2 amount as my cost basis on Form 8949, I'm only paying capital gains tax on any price movement between vesting and selling. Since I sold pretty quickly after vesting, that should be a relatively small amount. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and especially those who mentioned the tax software guidance and supplemental company documents - those tips are going to save me a lot of time and stress!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add one more option that worked for a friend of mine - if your previous employer was part of a larger corporation or franchise, try reaching out to their corporate headquarters instead of just the local HR department. Sometimes the local office is understaffed or disorganized, but corporate has better systems in place for handling these requests. Also, for anyone worried about the Form 4852 route, I spoke with a tax preparer who said as long as you're making good faith estimates based on actual records (like your final paystub), the IRS is generally pretty reasonable about it. They understand that sometimes employers don't comply with their legal obligations. One last tip: if you do end up calling the IRS, try calling early in the morning (around 7-8 AM) on weekdays. I've found the wait times are usually shorter then compared to afternoons when everyone is trying to call during lunch breaks.

Just wanted to share another option that helped me last year when I was in a similar bind - if your previous employer used a payroll service like Paychex or ADP, you might be able to access your W-2 directly through their employee portal even after leaving the company. Many people don't realize these accounts often remain active for former employees. Also, if you're really pressed for time and can't reach anyone, don't forget that you can request an automatic 6-month extension to file your return using Form 4868. This gives you until October 15th to file, though you'll still need to estimate and pay any taxes owed by the April deadline to avoid penalties. The key thing is not to panic - there are multiple paths to get this resolved. I'd recommend trying the IRS "Get Transcript" service first (either online or by mail), then calling them directly if that doesn't work. They're actually pretty helpful once you get through to a real person, and they deal with missing W-2 situations all the time.

Went through this exact process last filing season. Submitted my 4800C on February 8th and got my refund on March 2nd, so just over 3 weeks. The key was making sure I submitted EXACTLY what they asked for - no more, no less. I made the mistake of sending too much documentation the first time (thought I was being helpful) and they rejected it and made me resubmit. The second time I followed their instructions to the letter and it went through without issues. Hope this helps and good luck!

Just went through this process myself - submitted my 4800C on February 28th and refund hit my account yesterday (March 8th), so about 8 business days for me. I think timing might depend on how backed up they are when you submit. One thing that helped was checking my account transcript on the IRS website rather than just relying on WMR - it showed the verification hold codes and when they were cleared, which gave me a better sense of what was actually happening behind the scenes. The transcript updated about 2 days before WMR finally showed "approved" status. Hang in there - it's definitely nerve-wracking but they seem to be processing these more efficiently than in previous years.

Also look into whether your department contributes to a 457 plan - those contributions can be deferred from your income. I'm maxing mine out ($22,500 for 2023) and it significantly reduces my taxable income. Our department also offers a Roth 457 option which doesn't reduce current taxes but grows tax-free.

Great thread! As someone who's been a career firefighter for 15 years, I've learned a few things about navigating these tax issues. One thing that might help with your educational course situation - if your department required the training and you didn't have a choice in taking it, you might want to ask your payroll/HR department if they can reclassify how they report it on your W-2. Sometimes they can adjust the reporting to minimize the tax impact, especially if it was truly mandatory training rather than optional professional development. For the mileage between stations, I keep a detailed log in my truck with dates, starting/ending locations, mileage, and purpose of travel. Even though it's not federally deductible right now, some states still allow it and the rules could change. Plus if you ever do contract work or consulting on the side, that documentation becomes valuable. One deduction people often miss - if you have a home office space that you use exclusively for firefighter-related work (studying for promotions, completing required paperwork, etc.), that might still be deductible in some situations, especially if your department requires you to do work from home. Also worth checking if your department offers flexible spending accounts (FSA) for medical expenses. A lot of us deal with job-related injuries and having pre-tax dollars set aside for copays, physical therapy, etc. can add up to real savings.

Just a personal experience - I've been filing Schedule C for small 1099 income (between $5k-15k) alongside my W-2 job for 7 years now. I take reasonable deductions including home office, internet percentage, and cell phone. Never been audited, not even a letter asking for clarification. I think the audit fears are overblown for small-time Schedule C filers who aren't claiming massive deductions or losses. The IRS is severely understaffed and focused on bigger issues. Just keep decent records and be reasonable with your claims.

I've been in almost the exact same situation! Last year I had about $80k W-2 income and $11k on a 1099-NEC from freelance work. I was terrified about filing Schedule C for the first time, but after doing research and talking to other people, I decided to go for it. I claimed home office deduction for about 8% of my apartment (dedicated workspace in my bedroom), plus reasonable percentages for internet and phone. Ended up saving around $400 after the software upgrade costs. Here's what gave me confidence: I kept meticulous records, took photos of my workspace, and was very conservative with my percentages. I also made sure I could justify every deduction if asked. A year later, no issues whatsoever - not even a peep from the IRS. My advice is to take the legitimate deductions you're entitled to, but be conservative and document everything well. The $310 savings might seem small, but it adds up over time, and you're following the tax code as it's written. Don't let fear of an audit stop you from claiming what you legally owe.