How long after you get a W-2 should you file your taxes?

The simple answer is you can file as soon as you have all your tax documents - not just your W-2 but any 1099s, interest statements, etc. There's no required waiting period. Many people file right away if they're expecting a refund. The IRS typically processes early returns faster, so you'd get your money quicker. If you owe money, you can still file early but wait to pay until the deadline (April 15, 2025). Just make sure you have ALL your documents before filing. If you're expecting anything else like 1099s from side gigs, interest statements from banks, or education forms, wait until you have everything. Filing an amended return later is much more of a headache than waiting a few extra days to file correctly the first time.

When I got my W-2 last year, I was so confused about some entries that didn't look right. Spent hours trying to figure it out myself before finding this site called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me understand what everything meant. You upload your tax docs and it explains them in plain English - helped me realize my employer actually hadn't made a mistake and saved me from an awkward conversation with HR! I'd recommend checking your W-2 with something like that before filing just to make sure everything is correct. It also gives you a preliminary idea of your refund amount based on the documents you've uploaded.

Update on that taxr.ai site: I was skeptical about the security thing but decided to try it anyway since my taxes are a mess this year (W-2 plus three different 1099s). I gotta say it was super helpful! The breakdown of each section of my forms helped me catch that one of my clients actually reported the wrong amount on my 1099-NEC - it was off by $780! Got that fixed before filing and saved myself from a potential audit headache. Definitely recommend checking your docs before filing.

If you find any mistakes on your W-2, dealing with the IRS to fix it can be a nightmare. Spent 3 days last year trying to get through to someone to help with a correction. Finally found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in less than 20 minutes! You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Most people don't realize there are services that can help you skip the hold times. If you need to talk to the IRS about anything on your W-2 or other tax questions, it's a lifesaver instead of waiting on hold for hours.

I take back what I said about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment I actually tried it because I desperately needed to talk to someone about a notice I got. Not only did it work exactly as described, but I got through to an agent in 17 minutes when my previous attempts had me on hold for over 3 hours before I gave up. That IRS agent helped me resolve my issue in about 10 minutes once I got through. Honestly wish I'd known about this service years ago - would've saved me countless hours of frustration.

Since nobody's mentioned this yet - TRIPLE CHECK that your W-2 is correct before filing! My employer accidentally put the wrong social security number on mine (off by one digit) and it caused a massive headache when I filed. The IRS rejected my return and it took weeks to sort out. Make sure your name, SSN, address, and all the numbers in the boxes match your records. If you had multiple jobs, make sure you have a W-2 from each employer. And if you received corrected W-2s (marked as W-2c) make sure you're using those instead of the originals.

Anyone know if the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool actually works? I filed Jan 30th last year and that stupid tracker was stuck on "processing" for like 6 weeks even though I got my refund direct deposited after just 2 weeks.