Forgot a W-2 from second job until after I already filed - return was accepted. What now?
So I just realized I completely forgot about a W-2 from a side job I had for a few months last year. I already filed my taxes like 2 weeks ago and got the "Your return has been accepted" email from TurboTax. The W-2 I forgot is for about $3,800 in income that I obviously didn't report. I'm freaking out a little because I don't know what to do now. Do I need to file an amended return? Will I get in trouble with the IRS for this mistake? Does anyone know how much more I'll probably owe with this additional income? I'm really worried because I already spent some of my refund thinking everything was fine. Any advice would be really appreciated!
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Harmony Love
Don't panic! This happens more often than you'd think. Yes, you'll need to file an amended return (Form 1040-X) to report the additional income from the W-2 you forgot. The IRS already has a copy of that W-2 from your employer, so they'll eventually notice the discrepancy if you don't correct it. Since your original return was accepted, wait until your refund is processed completely before filing the amendment. You'll need to include the additional tax you'll owe based on that $3,800 of income. The exact amount depends on your tax bracket, but you're looking at federal income tax plus potentially state tax and any additional self-employment tax if applicable. The good news is that if you fix this yourself before the IRS sends you a notice, you'll likely only need to pay the additional tax plus interest on the amount - no major penalties if you amend promptly.
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Rudy Cenizo
•Thanks for this info! So how long do I need to wait before filing the amendment? My refund was direct deposited last week, does that mean I'm good to go ahead with the 1040-X now?
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Harmony Love
•Yes, if your refund has already been deposited, you're clear to file the amendment now. No need to wait any longer. The key is to file Form 1040-X as soon as you reasonably can. For the process itself, you can't e-file an amended return in most cases - you'll need to print and mail it. Make sure to include a copy of the forgotten W-2 with your amendment. Also keep in mind that amended returns can take up to 16 weeks to process, sometimes longer during busy periods, so file it soon and be patient with the timeline.
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Natalie Khan
I went through something similar last year and found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) super helpful for figuring out my amended return. I had forgotten a 1099 and was confused about how to handle it. Their document analysis tool helped me understand exactly what info from my forgotten form needed to go where on the 1040-X. Saved me from making more mistakes on my amendment after already messing up my original return!
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Daryl Bright
•Does it work if you've already filed through TurboTax? I'm in the same boat as OP and wondering if this would be easier than trying to figure out the amendment myself.
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Sienna Gomez
•I'm skeptical about these tax services. How does it actually help with amendments? Does it just give you general advice or does it actually fill out the forms for you?
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Natalie Khan
•Yes, it works regardless of what you used to file originally. The tool basically analyzes your tax documents (like your original return and the forgotten W-2) and tells you exactly what sections of the 1040-X you need to complete and what numbers go where. It doesn't replace your tax software, it just guides you through the amendment process. It doesn't fill the forms out for you automatically - it gives you specific guidance for your situation rather than generic advice. It shows you exactly what lines on the 1040-X need to be changed based on your specific documents. I found that more helpful than trying to figure it out myself or getting generic advice online.
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Daryl Bright
Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after asking about it and it was actually really helpful! I uploaded my original return and the W-2 I forgot to include, and it showed me exactly what parts of the 1040-X I needed to fill out. Even calculated the additional tax I would owe which was around $450 (less than I feared). It explained what boxes to check and where my new numbers should go. Made me feel way more confident about submitting my amendment!
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
If you're worried the IRS might contact you before you can get your amendment sorted out, try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I used it when I had a similar issue and needed to talk to someone at the IRS directly. I was on hold for HOURS trying to reach them before I found this. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they wait in the phone queue for you and call you when an agent is ready to talk. Saved me from wasting an entire day on hold!
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Abigail bergen
•How does that even work? Can they really get you through to the IRS faster than calling yourself? Seems too good to be true.
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Ahooker-Equator
•Yeah right. The IRS is impossible to reach. I've tried calling multiple times and given up after 2+ hours on hold. I doubt any service can actually help with that.
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
•It doesn't get you through faster - the IRS queue is the same for everyone. What it does is wait in that queue FOR you. You put in your number, and instead of you sitting there listening to hold music for hours, their system does it. Then when an actual IRS agent picks up, you get a call connecting you. It absolutely works. You still end up talking to the same IRS agents, dealing with the same wait times - you just don't have to be the one listening to the hold music and wasting your day. I was skeptical too until I tried it. I got to go about my day, and then 3 hours later got a call connecting me directly to an IRS agent who helped answer my questions about my amended return.
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Ahooker-Equator
Ok, I stand corrected! I tried Claimyr because I was desperate to talk to the IRS about my missed W-2 situation, and it actually worked exactly as described. Put my number in, went grocery shopping, and about 2.5 hours later got a call connecting me to an IRS agent! The agent confirmed I was doing the right thing by filing a 1040-X and gave me some specific advice for my situation. Honestly shocked this service exists - would have wasted an entire afternoon otherwise.
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Anderson Prospero
Just a heads up - make sure you pay the extra tax you'll owe when you submit your amended return. I made this mistake last year (forgot a 1099-NEC) and ended up with interest charges because I didn't include payment with my 1040-X.
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McKenzie Shade
•Do you remember how they calculated the interest? Like is it from the original filing deadline or from when I file the amendment?
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Anderson Prospero
•They calculated interest from the original filing deadline (April 18 last year). It wasn't a huge amount since I caught it pretty quickly - I think it was around $15 for owing about $700 extra and filing the amendment in May. The main thing is just to include payment when you send in the 1040-X rather than waiting for them to bill you. You can use the IRS Direct Pay system online to make the payment and avoid any future penalties that might add up.
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Tyrone Hill
When you file the 1040-X, make sure to clearly explain in Part III (explanation of changes) that you received a W-2 after filing your original return. I've done plenty of amended returns and being specific about why you're amending helps speed up processing.
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Toot-n-Mighty
•This! I work at an accounting firm and we always write very clear explanations. Something like "Taxpayer received Form W-2 from Employer XYZ after original return was filed. Amending to include additional wage income of $3,800 and associated tax withholding of $X.
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Lena Kowalski
Don't forget to check if you need to file an amended state return too! Depends on your state, but most require it if you amend your federal.
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DeShawn Washington
•Yep - and some states have different forms for amendments too. Not all use the same system as federal.
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McKenzie Shade
•Oh crap, I didn't even think about the state return. I'll look into that too. Thanks for the reminder!
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Dylan Campbell
I was in almost the exact same situation last year - forgot about a W-2 from a part-time retail job and didn't realize until weeks after filing. The anxiety was real! But honestly, it's way more common than you think and totally fixable. Here's what I learned from going through it: File the 1040-X as soon as possible, but don't stress too much about the timeline. Since you caught it yourself before the IRS did, you're already ahead of the game. The additional tax on $3,800 probably won't be as scary as you think - mine was around $600 for similar income. One tip that saved me some headache: when you calculate what you owe, factor in any federal withholding that was on that forgotten W-2. A lot of people forget that part and think they owe more than they actually do. The withholding reduces what you'll need to pay with your amendment. You're doing the right thing by fixing it proactively. The IRS appreciates voluntary corrections way more than having to chase you down later!
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NebulaNinja
•This is really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing! I keep beating myself up for making such a careless mistake, but you're right that it sounds more common than I thought. The $600 extra tax you mentioned actually gives me hope - I was imagining it would be way worse than that. Did you have any trouble with the amendment process itself? I'm nervous about messing up the 1040-X too since I clearly missed something important the first time around. Also, do you remember if there were any other surprise costs beyond just the additional tax?
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