Help with Form 4868 - struggling to estimate tax liability without W2 from unresponsive employer

Thanks for the advice! I tried requesting the Wage and Income Transcript online but it says it might not show current year information until July. Is there a faster way to get this? And if I estimate based on bank deposits, should I just guess what percentage might have been withheld?

The online transcript might not show current year information yet, you're right. You can try calling the IRS directly at 800-829-1040 to request the information, though wait times can be long. For estimating based on bank deposits, if you have last year's W-2 and your income was similar, you could use that withholding percentage as a guide. Alternatively, look at your final pay stub from last year if available - it should show year-to-date withholding. Without those, a rough estimate would be to assume 15-20% federal withholding, but this varies widely based on your income level and allowances.

How accurate was their estimate compared to what you eventually found out from your W-2? I'm nervous about guessing and getting hit with penalties later.

Is it legit? Never heard of it and seems sketchy to give financial docs to some random website. How do you know they're not stealing your info?

Their estimate ended up being within about $120 of my actual liability once I finally got my W-2, which was close enough that I didn't face any meaningful penalties. Remember the IRS charges interest based on the difference, so being reasonably close is what matters. Regarding security concerns, they use bank-level encryption and don't store your actual documents after analysis. I was skeptical too, but they're SOC 2 compliant and were recommended by my friend who works in finance. They just analyze the patterns and help calculate a reasonable estimate - saved me from totally guessing.

How does it actually work? Do they just keep redialing until they get through? Seems too good to be true with how impossible the IRS is to reach.

Sounds like a total scam. Nobody can magically get through the IRS phone system faster. They probably just take your money and give you the same wait times you'd get calling yourself.

It uses an automated system that dials and navigates the IRS phone tree, then stays on hold so you don't have to. They use predictive technology that knows the best times to call and which menu options to select. Once an agent is ready, they call your phone and connect you directly. Definitely not a scam - I was super skeptical too, but it legitimately works. I wasted over 12 hours trying to call myself with no luck. With their service, I got through to an agent who helped me file without my W-2 by using Form 4852 (substitute W-2). They explained exactly what documentation I needed to support my estimates. Literally saved me days of frustration.

Wait, so even with the extension I still need to pay by April 15th? I thought the whole point was to give me more time since I don't have the exact numbers yet?

Yes, you still need to pay your estimated tax by the original deadline (usually April 15, though it varies some years). The extension only gives you more time to submit the actual return paperwork, not more time to pay what you owe. If you don't pay what you owe by the original deadline, you'll be charged interest on the unpaid amount from the original due date until you pay. It's not a huge penalty (currently around 7% annual rate), but it does add up. Make your best estimate and pay that amount when you file Form 4868. If you overpay, you'll get a refund when you file your complete return later.

This worked for me too! Called right when they opened and only waited 20 mins instead of the usual 2+ hours. The agent was able to see my W2 info in their system and gave me the numbers I needed for my extension form.