How long does it take the IRS to process a corrected W2? Getting impatient with timeline

8 This is unfortunately pretty normal for W2 corrections. The IRS is seriously backed up these days, and corrected W2 forms (W-2c) can take anywhere from 8-12 weeks to process during normal times - and even longer during busy periods. Your employer should have issued you a W-2c (corrected W2) directly though, not just submitted it to the IRS. You technically don't need to wait for the IRS to "report back" to file your taxes - once you have the corrected W2 from your employer, you can file using that. Have you asked your previous employer specifically for a copy of the W-2c they submitted? For your extension, remember you have until October 15th to file, so you still have time. But don't wait too long - if you're owed a refund, you want that money back in your pocket!

15 I went through something similar last tax season and found this service called taxr.ai that really helped me sort things out. I was confused about how to handle my corrected W2 situation and getting mixed advice from different sources. I uploaded my original W2 and the corrected W-2c to https://taxr.ai and they analyzed both documents and explained exactly what changed and how it would affect my filing. Their system highlighted the differences between the documents and gave me clear instructions on how to proceed with my return. Saved me hours of confusion and worry about whether I was doing it right.

19 Just wanted to follow up - I decided to try taxr.ai after posting here and wow, it really did help! I uploaded my original W2 and the W-2c my company finally sent me, and the system immediately highlighted all the differences and explained what each change meant for my tax situation. The analysis showed exactly how the state income correction would affect both my federal and state returns. Turns out I was overthinking some aspects and missing others completely. Their step-by-step instructions made the whole process much clearer. Definitely worth checking out if you're dealing with corrected tax documents!

7 If you're still having trouble reaching the IRS, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. After spending weeks trying to get through to the IRS about a similar W2 correction issue, I was at my wit's end. Tried calling at different times of day, different days of the week - nothing worked. Someone recommended https://claimyr.com to me and it was a complete game-changer. They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an agent is about to pick up. You can see how it works in this demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I finally got through to someone who could tell me exactly what was going on with my case. The IRS agent confirmed they had received the W-2c from my employer and gave me a timeline for processing.

14 I have to eat my words and apologize for being so skeptical. After posting my doubtful comment, I was desperate enough to try Claimyr anyway for my audit question. Honestly, I'm shocked at how well it worked. I submitted my number on their site, went about my day, and about 45 minutes later got a call that I was being connected to an IRS agent. Had a 20-minute conversation with a very helpful person who answered all my questions about my audit and the W2 correction process. The agent told me that W-2c forms typically take 8-12 weeks to process fully in their system, but that I could file using the corrected form my employer provides without waiting for the IRS processing to complete. Saved me a ton of stress and uncertainty!

22 Pro tip from someone who deals with this regularly: don't wait on the IRS! Contact your state tax agency directly about the issue. They're usually much easier to reach than the IRS and can often help with state income reporting issues more efficiently. Also, your employer should give you a copy of the W-2c form directly. If they're refusing or saying they can't, that's a red flag. They're legally required to provide you with copies of any tax forms they submit on your behalf.

9 Has anyone ever just filed their taxes with the incorrect W2 and then amended later? I'm in a similar situation and my extension deadline is coming up soon. I'm wondering if I should just file now with what I have and then fix it with an amended return when I finally get the W-2c.

The 8-12 week timeline you're experiencing is unfortunately very typical for W-2c processing, especially during busy tax seasons. The IRS is significantly backlogged right now. However, you shouldn't have to wait for the IRS to finish processing before you can file your taxes. Your employer is required to provide you with copies of the W-2c form they submitted - you should call them back and specifically request your copies. Once you have the corrected W-2c in hand, you can file your return using those corrected figures. Since this involves state income reporting errors, you'll likely need to file returns in both the incorrectly reported state and your actual state of employment. The W-2c will show exactly what changed, making it clear what corrections need to be made to your returns. Don't stress too much about the timeline - you have until October 15th with your extension, so there's still plenty of time to get this sorted out properly.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My former employer also reported incorrect state information on my W2, and I've been waiting about 6 weeks for them to process the correction. One thing I learned from calling around is that you should definitely push your employer for a copy of the W-2c they submitted. They're legally required to give you copies, and you don't actually need to wait for the IRS to finish their processing to file your taxes - you can use the corrected W-2c as soon as you have it. Also, if you're dealing with state income reporting errors like I am, be prepared that you might need to file in both states - the one incorrectly listed and your actual state of employment. It's a pain, but at least with your extension you have until October 15th to get it all sorted out. The waiting is definitely frustrating, but from what I've heard from others, 8-12 weeks is unfortunately pretty standard for W-2c processing these days. Hang in there!

I feel your pain! I went through this exact situation about two years ago when my employer incorrectly reported my work location. The 8-week wait you're experiencing is unfortunately very normal - I waited almost 10 weeks for mine to get processed. The key thing that saved me a lot of stress was realizing I didn't need to wait for the IRS to finish processing the W-2c before filing. Your former employer should provide you with copies of the corrected W-2c form directly - that's all you need to file your return. If they're telling you to "wait for the IRS to report back," they're either confused about the process or not being helpful. Call them back and specifically ask for your copies of the W-2c they submitted. You're entitled to receive: one copy for your records, one for your federal return, and copies for any state/local returns needed. Once you have that corrected form in hand, you can file immediately without waiting for the IRS processing to complete. Since you mentioned state reporting errors, you'll likely need to file returns in both states - the incorrect one (to get any withholdings back) and your actual state of employment. It's extra paperwork but you won't be double-taxed. Good luck!

I just went through this exact same nightmare with my previous employer! They had me listed as working in New York when I was actually in New Jersey the whole time. The whole process took about 10 weeks from start to finish, which seems to be pretty typical from what I'm reading here. The most important thing I learned is that you absolutely should not wait for the IRS to "report back" to your employer. That's not how the process works at all. Your employer should have already given you copies of the W-2c form they submitted - if they haven't, call them immediately and demand your copies. You're legally entitled to receive them. Once I had my W-2c copies, I was able to file my taxes right away without waiting for any IRS processing to complete. I did have to file in both New York (to get my withholdings back) and New Jersey (my actual state), but it wasn't as complicated as I feared. Most tax software can handle dual state filings these days, and you definitely won't end up paying twice. Don't let your employer string you along with this "waiting for IRS approval" nonsense - get your W-2c copies and file your return!

I'm going through something very similar right now! My employer reported me working in the wrong state too, and it's been about 7 weeks since they said they submitted the correction. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea I was entitled to get copies of the W-2c directly from my employer! I've been sitting here like a fool waiting for my employer to tell me the IRS "approved" something, when apparently I should have demanded my W-2c copies weeks ago. Definitely calling them first thing Monday morning to get this sorted out. The dual state filing situation is what's really been stressing me out, but hearing from so many people who've successfully navigated it without getting double-taxed gives me hope. It sounds like more paperwork but not the financial nightmare I was imagining. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - it's really reassuring to know that 8-10 weeks is normal (even though it feels like forever when you're in the middle of it). Time to stop waiting around and actually get my W-2c copies so I can move forward with filing!

I'm also dealing with a W-2 correction right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! My situation is a bit different - my employer incorrectly reported my 401k contributions, but the process sounds very similar. I've been waiting about 6 weeks and getting the same "we're waiting to hear back from the IRS" line from HR. After reading all these responses, I realize I should have been asking for my W-2c copies directly instead of just waiting around. It's so frustrating that employers don't explain this process clearly! One question for those who've been through this - when you finally got your W-2c copies, were there any surprises in terms of what was corrected versus what you expected? I'm worried my employer might have made other errors I'm not aware of while fixing the 401k issue. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and timelines here. It's really reassuring to know the 8-12 week processing time is normal, even though it feels like an eternity when you're stuck in limbo!

I'm currently dealing with a W-2 correction myself and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! My employer made errors on my federal withholding amounts and I've been waiting about 9 weeks now. Like many others here, I was told to "wait for the IRS to process the correction" without realizing I should have been demanding my W-2c copies directly from my employer weeks ago. Reading everyone's experiences, it's clear that 8-12 weeks is unfortunately the standard timeline for W-2c processing, but the key insight is that we don't need to wait for the IRS to finish before filing our taxes. I'm calling my HR department first thing tomorrow to specifically request my W-2c copies for my records, federal filing, and state filing. For those still waiting - don't make the same mistake I did! Your employer is legally required to provide you with copies of any corrected tax forms they submit. Stop waiting for some mythical "IRS approval" and get those W-2c copies so you can move forward with your filing. The extension deadline gives us until October 15th, but there's no reason to wait that long once you have the corrected documentation in hand. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences here - it's really helped clarify what should be a straightforward process that employers seem to make unnecessarily confusing!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! My former employer incorrectly reported my state withholdings and I've been waiting 9 weeks for the "IRS to process" the correction. After reading through all these responses, I realize I've been doing this completely wrong - I should have been demanding my W-2c copies from my employer weeks ago instead of just sitting around waiting! It's so frustrating how employers make this process sound way more complicated than it actually is. The whole "waiting for IRS approval" thing seems to be a common misconception (or excuse) that keeps us in limbo unnecessarily. I'm calling my former employer first thing tomorrow to specifically request my copies of the W-2c they submitted. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like once I have those corrected forms in hand, I can file my taxes immediately without waiting for the IRS processing to complete. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences - the 8-12 week processing window seems to be the unfortunate norm, but at least now I know how to actually move forward instead of just waiting indefinitely. This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding what should be a straightforward process!

I'm also going through a W-2 correction situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My employer incorrectly reported my bonus income allocation and I've been waiting about 8 weeks. Like so many others here, I was getting the "we need to wait for IRS processing" runaround from HR. Reading everyone's experiences has been a real eye-opener - I had no idea that employers are legally required to provide W-2c copies directly to employees. I've been sitting here waiting for some kind of official IRS confirmation that apparently doesn't even exist in the way I thought it did. The consistent timeline of 8-12 weeks that everyone is reporting is actually reassuring, even though it feels like forever when you're in the middle of it. But the key takeaway seems to be that we don't need to wait for the full IRS processing to complete before we can file our taxes - we just need those W-2c copies from our employers. I'm definitely calling my HR department tomorrow morning to specifically request my W-2c copies. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and breaking down how this process actually works. It's frustrating that something this straightforward gets made so unnecessarily complicated by employers who either don't understand the process themselves or just aren't being helpful about explaining it clearly!