Another option is to check if you can access your w2 online. Many employers use systems like ADP, Workday, or UKG where your tax documents are stored electronically. Even if you left the company, you might still have access to their employee portal where you can download your W2. For the state tax withholding, your last paystub from December should have the YTD (year to date) state withholding amount which is typically what ends up on your W2. Just find the line that says "State Income Tax" or "State Withholding" and look at the YTD column.

Just want to throw in my 2 cents as someone who works in payroll - you legally have until Oct 15 to file if you request an extension, which gives you plenty of time to get a replacement W2. Your employer is REQUIRED BY LAW to provide a replacement. they can charge a nominal fee but they cannot refuse!!

Just to clarify what everyone's saying - I'm a tax preparer and see this confusion all the time. For married filing jointly, the IRS computer systems primarily track everything under the SSN of the first person listed on the return (the "primary taxpayer"). Even though a joint return represents both spouses equally in terms of legal responsibility, the computer systems need one primary identifier to link everything together. That's why you always use the primary taxpayer's information for Direct Pay, Online Account, checking refund status, etc.

Thanks for all the helpful responses everyone! Just wanted to give a quick update - I went ahead and used my husband's SSN (primary taxpayer) in Direct Pay and the payment went through smoothly. Got a confirmation number and everything. I really appreciate everyone clarifying that even though I'm the one earning the freelance income, the IRS system only recognizes the primary taxpayer's info for joint filers. That makes total sense now that I understand how their computer systems work. I'm definitely going to look into some of the tools mentioned here (like taxr.ai) to help me calculate the right amounts for future quarters. I've been kind of winging it with estimated payments and want to make sure I'm not underpaying and getting hit with penalties. One last question - should I be making these payments every quarter even if my freelance income varies a lot month to month? Sometimes I have big projects and sometimes barely anything. Is it better to estimate conservatively and potentially overpay, or try to match the actual income more precisely each quarter?

anyone else notice how the dates are actually better than last year? usually theres like a 21 day wait but these are showing 10-14 days

Thanks for sharing this detailed schedule! As someone who's been through the tax refund waiting game multiple times, I appreciate having concrete dates to work with. One thing I'd add is that even with these official timeframes, it's worth checking your "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS website regularly since individual circumstances can still cause delays beyond what's shown here. For those with EITC/CTC, the March delay is frustrating but it's actually mandated by the PATH Act - they legally have to hold those refunds until mid-February before they can even start processing them, so March is unfortunately realistic. Also heads up that if you're claiming any new credits or deductions this year, or if there are any discrepancies with prior year info, you might see additional delays even beyond these schedules. The IRS has definitely been more thorough with their reviews lately.

Anyone know if there's any talk about increasing that $10k SALT cap? It's ridiculous for those of us in high-tax states. Between property tax on my house and state income tax, I'm already way over before even considering my car excise tax.

Great question! I went through this exact same confusion last year. Yes, you can absolutely deduct your motor vehicle excise tax on Schedule A, but it goes on Line 5c (Personal Property Taxes), not Line 5a which is for state and local income taxes. The key requirement is that the tax must be based on the value of your vehicle - which most town/city excise taxes are. Since you've owned the car since 2019 and paid the excise tax in 2023, that's totally normal and deductible. Definitely keep that paper receipt! The IRS requires documentation for all deductions, and you'll want to hold onto it for at least 3-7 years. The receipt should show how the tax was calculated (based on vehicle value) which proves it qualifies as a deductible personal property tax. One thing to keep in mind is the $10,000 SALT cap that applies to all state and local taxes combined (including property taxes on your home and state income tax). But if you're not hitting that limit, every bit helps with itemizing!

I documented a comparable situation with photographic evidence in 2022. The preparer had checked the wrong box for education expenses, causing my American Opportunity Credit to be denied. When I showed them the error with highlighted sections of my original documents compared to their input screens, they couldn't deny responsibility. One effective strategy: create a side-by-side comparison document showing what information you provided versus what they entered. For education credits specifically, Section 25A of the tax code is very clear about qualified expenses, and IRS Publication 970 provides explicit examples they should have followed.

I went through something very similar with Jackson Hewitt two years ago. They missed my student loan interest deduction entirely and miscalculated my education credits by over $800. What finally worked for me was escalating beyond the local office manager to their regional compliance department. I sent a certified letter referencing specific IRC sections (just like you did) and mentioned I was prepared to file Form 14157. Within 10 days, their regional manager called me directly and arranged for a senior preparer to review my entire return. They ended up amending it at no charge and even reimbursed me for the postage costs of mailing supporting documents. The key was being persistent and demonstrating I understood the regulations they violated. Don't give up - you clearly know your rights and the tax code better than their preparers do!