Haven't filed taxes since 2022 - what to do with found W-2s?

I'm in a mess and need some guidance! So back in 2022, I filed my taxes but apparently I wasn't supposed to get much back (like $50 or something), so instead of direct deposit I chose to roll that amount into my 2023 refund (my mom was helping me and suggested this option). Well, here's where I screwed up - when 2023 came around, I couldn't find my W-2 forms ANYWHERE! I legit turned my place upside down looking for them, but they had completely vanished. I got frustrated and just never filed for 2023. Fast forward to last month, I was moving apartments and guess what I found in a box of random paperwork? Yep, those missing W-2s! So now I'm wondering what's the right way to handle this. Should I somehow combine these with my 2024 tax filing that's coming up, or is there a specific way I need to handle the unfiled 2023 taxes? I've never missed filing before and I'm worried about penalties or something. Really appreciate any advice you can give me on how to fix this mess!

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19 comments

Isla Fischer

•8M

You'll need to file your 2023 return separately - you can't combine past years with your current year filing. The good news is that if you're owed a refund for 2023, there's no penalty for filing late! The IRS gives you up to 3 years to claim a refund. However, if you owed taxes for 2023, you might face penalties and interest that have been accumulating since the filing deadline last April. Either way, you should file your 2023 return as soon as possible using those W-2s you found. You can use tax software to prepare and file your 2023 return even now. You'll need to specifically select the 2023 tax year option (not 2024) when you start. Most major tax software providers allow you to prepare returns for previous years, though you might have to mail in the completed forms rather than e-file.

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Isla Fischer

•8M

The only way to know for sure if you're due a refund or if you owed is to complete your 2023 tax return with all your income and deduction information. Tax situations change year to year, so previous patterns aren't always reliable. No, you won't lose the rollover from 2022. The IRS keeps track of that credit on your account, and when you file your 2023 return, that credit will automatically be applied. The software will ask if you had any payments or credits applied, and you can enter that amount. If you don't remember the exact amount, don't worry - the IRS system will have it recorded and will apply it correctly.

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Miles Hammonds

•8M

Hey there! I was in almost the EXACT same situation last year. I lost my W-2s while moving and then found them months later. I was stressing about penalties and all that, but I used https://taxr.ai to help me figure everything out. They have this really cool feature where you can upload your found tax documents and they tell you exactly what years you need to file for and what the potential penalties might be. The best part was they could tell me whether I was due a refund or if I owed money before I even filed, which helped me prioritize. They also explained how my previous credits would apply when filing late returns.

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Miles Hammonds

•8M

Yes, it absolutely works for independent contractors! It's actually even more helpful for 1099 income since it can estimate your self-employment tax and help identify deductions you might be eligible for. It's designed to help with exactly the situation you're in. The service is surprisingly accurate in my experience. It doesn't directly connect to IRS databases, but it uses the same tax calculations and rules that the IRS uses. It analyzes your documents, extracts the relevant information, and runs calculations based on current tax laws. What I found most helpful was that it gave me peace of mind knowing what to expect before I actually filed.

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Micah Franklin

•8M

Just wanted to update everyone - I was skeptical about taxr.ai but decided to give it a try since my situation was similar to the original poster's. I had missed filing 2023 and was worried about potential penalties. It was actually really helpful! I uploaded my W-2s and other tax documents, and within minutes I could see that I was due a refund of about $780 for 2023. Since I was owed money (not owing), there were no penalties for filing late. The service helped me prepare the right forms and explained exactly what I needed to do to file for the previous year. The process was so much easier than I expected, and I've already received my refund for 2023! Now I'm making sure to stay on top of my 2024 taxes so I don't fall behind again.

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Ella Harper

•8M

If you're having trouble getting information from the IRS about your account or past filings, I highly recommend using https://claimyr.com - it saved me hours of frustration. When I was in a similar situation with unfiled returns, I needed to confirm with the IRS what they had on record for me. I tried calling the IRS directly and kept getting stuck in those endless phone queues where they eventually disconnect you after waiting for 2+ hours. Claimyr got me connected to a real IRS agent in about 15 minutes! They have this system that waits on hold for you and calls you back once an agent is on the line. You can see how it works in their demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Having that conversation with the IRS agent was crucial because I learned I had credits from previous years I didn't know about.

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Ella Harper

•8M

It works by using technology to navigate the IRS phone system and stay on hold for you. Basically, they have automated systems that call the IRS, work through all the phone prompts, and then stay on hold in your place. When a human IRS agent finally gets on the line, they connect that person to your phone. There's no special IRS connection - they're just handling the frustrating waiting part. I completely understand the skepticism - I felt the same way! But after trying for days to reach someone at the IRS myself with no luck, I was desperate. The service does charge a fee, but for me it was worth it to avoid wasting more time. When I needed to confirm information about previous year credits (like the OP's situation), getting through to speak to an actual person made all the difference. I'd still be waiting if I tried to do it myself.

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Brooklyn Knight

•8M

Well I need to eat my words here. After posting that skeptical comment yesterday, I decided to try Claimyr anyway because I was getting nowhere with the IRS phone system. Honestly, it works exactly as advertised. I got connected to an IRS agent in about 25 minutes (would have been hours of waiting otherwise). The agent confirmed my rollover credits from 2022 and gave me specific guidance on filing my late 2023 return. The peace of mind was totally worth it. I now know exactly what I need to do and don't have to stress about whether I'm doing it right. For anyone in the OP's situation with questions about previous filings or credits, being able to actually talk to the IRS makes everything so much clearer.

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Owen Devar

•8M

You can find VITA locations by using the IRS VITA Locator tool on their website or by calling 800-906-9887. Most locations operate by appointment, but some do accept walk-ins depending on volunteer availability. For your situation with multiple unfiled years, I'd definitely recommend making an appointment and specifically mentioning that you have returns for multiple years. Bring all your tax documents for 2021, 2022, and 2023 with you. They can help with all of them, but keep in mind they might need multiple sessions since each year is a separate return. The assistance is completely free as long as your income is within their guidelines!

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