Can my company legally delay issuing my corrected W-2 form? Need advice ASAP

This is definitely frustrating, but let me break down your situation. Yes, your employer can technically wait to issue corrected W-2s (W-2c forms) as long as they provide them by the IRS deadline, which is generally within 30 days of discovering an error. However, this doesn't help your immediate filing needs. Your best option is to be proactive. Contact your payroll department again and explain your previous penalty situation. Request an estimate of the corrections in writing, even if the official W-2c isn't ready. Many companies can provide this information. If they refuse, you have options. You can file using your best estimate based on your paystubs and RSU/ISO documentation, then file an amended return when you receive the W-2c. Include a statement explaining the situation when you file. You could also file Form 4868 for an automatic extension until October, giving you more time to get the correct documents. Remember though, this is just an extension to file, not to pay, so you'd still need to estimate and pay any taxes due by the regular deadline to avoid penalties. Don't worry too much about penalties if you make a good faith effort and can document that you attempted to get correct information from your employer.

I ran into almost this exact situation last year with my RSUs and the W-2c mess! After spending hours trying to figure it out myself, I ended up using https://taxr.ai to analyze my RSU vesting schedules, ISO sales records and original W-2. The tool was actually able to calculate what my corrected W-2 would likely show before my company even issued it. When my W-2c finally arrived in late September (seriously, they took FOREVER), the numbers matched almost exactly what taxr.ai had predicted. It saved me from having to file an amended return since I had already filed with the correct amounts. The system also generated documentation explaining how it derived the figures, which I kept in case of any IRS questions. Their document analysis helped me understand exactly which transactions would affect my W-2 and by how much. Definitely worth checking out if you're in this RSU/ISO situation!

Just wanted to follow up about the taxr.ai site someone recommended here. I was super skeptical but decided to try it since I'm in the same boat with RSUs and waiting for a corrected W-2. Honestly, it worked better than expected! I uploaded my stock plan statements and original W-2, and it projected what my corrections would be. The interface walked me through exactly which numbers would change and why. For my situation, it showed that about $14,500 of income wasn't reflected on my original W-2 due to RSU vesting. When I showed this to my company's payroll team along with the documentation taxr.ai generated, they actually expedited my W-2c rather than making me wait with everyone else! The payroll specialist mentioned they're getting overloaded with these requests and having the detailed calculation already done made it easier for them to verify and process mine. Just thought I'd share since it really helped my situation!

Ugh, I feel your pain! I had a similar nightmare scenario with waiting for corrected tax forms last year. After my company kept giving me the runaround, I finally gave up trying to call the IRS directly - we all know how THAT goes (hours of hold music anyone?). I ended up using https://claimyr.com to get through to an actual human at the IRS. They got me connected in about 20 minutes when I had previously wasted HOURS trying to get through. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with was actually super helpful and explained that I could file Form 4852 (Substitute for W-2) along with my return if my employer wasn't providing the corrected W-2 in a timely manner. They also documented in my file that I had made a good faith effort to obtain the correct documents, which apparently helps if there are any questions later. Just knowing my options from an official source gave me the confidence to move forward instead of stressing about waiting for my employer.

I'm back to eat my hat! After my skeptical comment about Claimyr, I decided to try it because I was desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my similar W-2c situation. Holy crap it actually worked! Got connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes after trying unsuccessfully for WEEKS on my own. The agent walked me through filing Form 4852 (Substitute for W-2) and explained exactly how to document my attempts to get the correct W-2 from my employer. The best part was finding out I could go ahead and file without waiting for my perpetually delayed W-2c, as long as I could reasonably estimate the correct amounts from my paystubs and stock statements. The agent even gave me her ID number to reference if any questions came up about my filing. Seriously relieved to have this sorted out instead of stressing about missing the deadline. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong - and I was definitely wrong about this!

Something nobody's mentioned yet - you might want to file a complaint with your state labor department. In many states, employers are required to provide wage statements in a timely manner. Your company's policy of deliberately delaying these corrections could actually violate labor laws. When I had a similar situation, I casually mentioned to HR that I was "considering checking with the state labor board about the delay" and miraculously my corrected form appeared within days. Sometimes they need a little motivation to prioritize these things!

Just a quick heads up that isn't getting enough attention: Make sure you understand how your RSUs and ISOs affect your cost basis reporting! This bit me hard last year. The W-2c will show the correct income amount, but your 1099-B from your broker likely WON'T have the correct cost basis. You need to manually adjust this on your Schedule D and Form 8949 or you'll end up paying double tax on the RSU income.

This is such a common and frustrating situation! I went through something similar two years ago with my company's delayed W-2c process. One thing that really helped me was being persistent but professional with HR/payroll. I sent a follow-up email every week documenting my request and the potential penalties I was facing. I also mentioned that I was working with a tax professional who needed the information by a specific date to avoid filing extensions. Another strategy that worked: I asked if they could provide me with a written estimate of the corrections even if the official W-2c wasn't ready. Many payroll systems can generate this information quickly - it's the formal filing process that takes time. Having those numbers let me work with my tax preparer to get everything ready. Also, definitely keep detailed records of all your RSU vesting dates and sale transactions. Your brokerage statements combined with your company's equity portal should give you most of the information you need to estimate the corrections yourself if push comes to shove. The key is being proactive and documenting everything. The IRS is generally understanding when you can show you made good faith efforts to obtain correct information from your employer. Don't let your company's inefficiency become your tax problem!