Accidentally failed to report income on 2019 Taxes - just discovered while applying for state bar

You're not "completely screwed" - this is actually a fairly common situation. The good news is you're catching this yourself rather than the IRS finding it first. Here's what you should do: File a Form 1040X (amended tax return) for 2019 as soon as possible. You'll need to include the additional income and pay any taxes owed plus interest. Since it's been a few years, there may be some penalties, but the IRS generally reduces or removes penalties when people voluntarily correct errors. If you can't get the W-2 from your former employer, you can request a wage and income transcript from the IRS that will show all reported income under your SSN for 2019. This should include that bartending job if they properly reported your wages. Regarding the bar application, character and fitness committees look for patterns of dishonesty, not honest mistakes that you've taken steps to correct. The fact that you discovered this yourself and took immediate action to fix it will likely be viewed positively. Make sure to disclose this situation on your bar application along with documentation showing you've filed the amended return.

Hey there! I had a similar issue last year when applying for a mortgage. I'd forgotten to report about $3k from a contract job in 2018. After stressing for days, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which was super helpful. They have this AI tool that scans all your tax documents and finds discrepancies - it showed me exactly what I needed to fix on my amended return. The best part was their transcript analysis that showed me what the IRS already knew about my income (turns out they had the record of that 1099 all along). It made filing the 1040X way easier and gave me peace of mind about what I was dealing with. Might be worth checking out since you're trying to sort this out for your bar application!

I was super skeptical when I first heard about taxr.ai but decided to try it after receiving a CP2000 notice from the IRS about unreported stock sales from 2020. I was totally freaking out! The transcript analysis showed me exactly what the IRS was seeing versus what I had reported. Turns out, I had reported the income but on the wrong form. Without this tool I would have just paid the $2,700 the IRS was asking for, but with the analysis I was able to respond to the notice correctly and ended up owing $0! I'm honestly not tech-savvy at all, but their interface made it easy to upload my documents and understand the results. For someone dealing with state bar applications where everything needs to be perfect, this could save you a ton of stress.

I had a nightmare trying to reach the IRS about a similar situation last year. Called over 20 times and could never get through. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of frustration and I was able to get confirmation directly from the IRS about what I needed to do to fix my unreported income situation. Much better than guessing or waiting weeks for a letter response. For your situation, talking directly to an IRS agent might help clarify exactly what steps you need to take and how it might affect your bar application.

I'm eating crow right now because I just have to share what happened after I replied to that Claimyr comment. I was so skeptical that I actually tried it the next day just to prove it was BS. Well... I got connected to an actual IRS agent in 17 minutes after trying unsuccessfully for WEEKS. The agent confirmed exactly what I needed to do about my unreported contractor income and gave me the exact timeline for processing my amended return. For the OP dealing with bar admission concerns - talking directly to an IRS agent gave me documentation that I was handling the situation properly, which might be really valuable for your character and fitness review. Being proactive and having that official guidance might make a big difference.

As a tax preparer, I can tell you that filing an amended return is definitely the right move here. One thing I didn't see mentioned yet is the statute of limitations. For 2019 taxes, the normal 3-year statute would have expired on April 15, 2023 (or whatever the extended deadline was during COVID). However, there's no statute of limitations for unfiled returns or fraudulent returns. Since you filed a return but omitted income, the IRS generally has 3 years from filing to assess additional tax. However, if the omission is more than 25% of your gross income, the period extends to 6 years. And if they can prove fraud (which doesn't seem applicable in your accidental case), there's no limit. Be prepared that the IRS computer systems likely already flagged this discrepancy - employers submit W-2s directly to the IRS. They might just be backlogged in sending out notices.

For what it's worth, my brother went through something similar during his medical licensing. Had forgotten to report about $6k from a research stipend a few years back. He amended his return, paid what he owed, and wrote a brief explanation for his application. They asked about it briefly during his character interview but were mostly satisfied that he fixed it proactively. The interviewer actually said they'd be more concerned if he'd tried to hide it after discovering the error. Just document everything - keep copies of your attempts to contact the former employer, the amended return, and any communications with the IRS. Shows good faith effort to correct an honest mistake.

Am i the only one thinking this might not be a huge deal? the IRS matches W2s to tax returns automatically. If there was a discrepancy they would have sent a notice by now. Maybe the employer never actually filed a W2 for u? could explain why they're not responding - they might not have proper records. if it was me, id probably just wait for that wage transcript others mentioned before doing anything. maybe there's nothing to fix!

Having gone through bar admission myself a few years ago, I can tell you that character and fitness committees really appreciate transparency and proactive correction of mistakes. The fact that you discovered this yourself while preparing your application actually works in your favor. Here's my recommended approach: First, get that IRS wage and income transcript immediately to see what they have on file. If the income shows up there, file Form 1040X right away. If it doesn't appear, you still need to disclose this situation on your bar application. For the bar application disclosure, be straightforward: "During preparation of my bar application, I discovered I may have failed to report approximately $4,200 in income from part-time employment in 2019. I have taken steps to verify this with the IRS and file an amended return if necessary." Include documentation of your efforts to contact the employer and any IRS communications. The key is showing you're handling this responsibly rather than trying to hide it. I've seen applicants get in trouble for non-disclosure of issues they thought were "minor" - it's always better to over-disclose than under-disclose. Your honesty and proactive approach will likely be viewed positively by the committee.

I went through a very similar situation during my bar application process. I had unreported freelance income from 2018 that I discovered while gathering documents. Here's what I learned: First, don't panic - this is more common than you think. The fact that you discovered it yourself during the application process actually demonstrates the kind of diligence and integrity that bar committees want to see. My approach was: 1) Get the IRS wage and income transcript immediately (as others mentioned, it's free through irs.gov), 2) File the amended return regardless of what the transcript shows, 3) Be completely transparent on the bar application. For the bar application, I included a brief but complete explanation with specific amounts and dates, along with copies of the amended return and payment confirmation. The key is showing you took immediate corrective action once you discovered the issue. During my character and fitness interview, they spent maybe 2 minutes on it. The interviewer actually commended me for catching and correcting it myself rather than waiting for the IRS to find it. They said it showed good character that I was willing to pay additional taxes I legally owed even when I might have gotten away with it. Don't let this derail your bar admission - handle it properly and it could actually strengthen your application by demonstrating integrity under pressure.

I've been lurking on this thread and finally decided to chime in because I went through something very similar about 3 years ago. I was a 3L applying for the bar when I realized I had completely forgotten to report income from a summer research position - about $3,800 that somehow slipped through the cracks during a chaotic moving situation. The anxiety was absolutely crushing at first, but here's what I learned: the bar examiners have seen this before and they're looking for how you handle mistakes, not whether you're perfect. I followed the advice others have given here - got my IRS transcripts, filed an amended return, and disclosed everything on my bar application with full documentation. What surprised me was that during my character and fitness interview, they barely asked about it. The examiner said something like "I see you discovered and corrected a tax filing error - that shows good judgment." That was it. They were much more interested in discussing my volunteer work and why I wanted to practice law. My total cost ended up being around $200 in additional taxes plus about $50 in penalties and interest. Honestly, the peace of mind was worth way more than that. The worst part was the waiting and anxiety, not the actual consequences. You're going to be fine. Handle it properly, be transparent, and focus on the fact that you caught this yourself while preparing to enter a profession that demands integrity. That's exactly the kind of character they want to see.

I completely understand the panic you're feeling right now - I went through something very similar during my CPA license application a few years back. Discovered I'd missed reporting about $3,500 in consulting income from 2018, and I was absolutely terrified it would derail everything. Here's what I learned from that experience: the key is demonstrating that you're taking immediate, responsible action to correct the mistake. Get that IRS wage and income transcript first (it's free through irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript) to see exactly what they have on file. This will tell you whether your former employer actually filed a W-2 or 1099 for your work. Regardless of what the transcript shows, I'd recommend filing the amended return. Even if the statute of limitations has technically passed, showing the bar committee that you voluntarily corrected the error demonstrates exactly the kind of integrity they're looking for in future attorneys. For your bar application, be completely transparent about the situation. Include the dollar amount, timeline, and documentation of your corrective actions. I know it feels scary to put this in writing, but trying to hide it would be infinitely worse if they discovered it later. The licensing board for my CPA application actually commended me for catching and correcting the error myself. They said it showed professional responsibility and the kind of character they wanted in the profession. Your situation could very well be viewed the same way - as evidence of your integrity, not a disqualifying mistake. You've got this! Handle it properly and this could actually strengthen your application by showing how you respond to challenges with honesty and accountability.

I'm a tax attorney and see situations like this regularly. You're absolutely doing the right thing by addressing this proactively. Here's my professional take on your situation: First, get that IRS wage and income transcript immediately - it's crucial to know what they already have on file before you make any moves. If the employer filed proper paperwork, it'll show up there. If not, you still need to report the income you earned. Regarding the statute of limitations, while the normal 3-year period may have expired, voluntary disclosure through an amended return is still the right approach for several reasons: 1) It shows good faith for your bar application, 2) The IRS can still assess tax if they discover unreported income even after the statute expires in certain circumstances, and 3) Some states have longer statutes that could still be open. For your bar application, absolutely disclose this situation. Frame it as: "During preparation of my bar application, I discovered unreported income from 2019. I have obtained IRS transcripts, filed an amended return, and paid all taxes and penalties owed." Include documentation of your corrective actions. Character and fitness committees see this type of disclosure regularly. What matters is not that you made an honest mistake during a stressful time, but how you handled it when you discovered it. Your proactive approach demonstrates exactly the kind of professional responsibility they want to see. The penalties and interest on $4,200 of income will likely be minimal - probably under $300 total. Much less than the potential consequences of not addressing it properly. You're going to be fine. Handle this transparently and it may actually strengthen your application by demonstrating integrity under pressure.