How long should I wait until I file 1040-X for a forgotten W-2?

You should wait until your original return is fully processed before filing a 1040-X amendment. Since the IRS has only accepted but not completely processed your return, jumping in with an amendment now could create confusion in their system. The IRS will eventually notice the discrepancy when they match reported W-2s with your return, but they won't automatically adjust it for you. They'll likely send you a notice about the unreported income and potentially assess additional tax, interest, and possibly penalties. Your best approach is to wait until FreeTaxUSA's amendment feature becomes available in February. The software will make it much easier to correctly complete the 1040-X since they already have your original return information. Filing an amendment within a reasonable timeframe after discovering the error shows good faith, and the IRS is generally understanding when taxpayers take prompt corrective action.

Dealing with this exact situation made me super frustrated until I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) - it saved me so much confusion with my 1040-X! I forgot about a W-2 from a side job I did during the holidays, and I was worried about how to handle it. The tool analyzed my original return and the missing W-2, then walked me through exactly what needed to change on my amendment. It even highlighted that I qualified for an additional tax credit I would have missed otherwise! It generates a detailed explanation document that I'm keeping with my tax records in case of questions later. Better than trying to piece everything together manually or waiting for tax software to update their amendment features.

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai for my missing W-2 situation and it worked out great! I was hesitant at first but desperate since I had multiple missing forms. The report it generated made it crystal clear what needed to change on my 1040-X. The best part was how it explained exactly which numbers to update on each line of the amendment form. I was able to file my amendment last week instead of waiting another month for my tax software to update. The peace of mind from having this fixed already instead of stressing about it is totally worth it!

If you're having trouble reaching the IRS to ask about your amendment situation, I highly recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent DAYS trying to get through to the IRS about my own 1040-X question - kept getting disconnected or told the wait time was 2+ hours. Claimyr got me connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for literally a week on my own. You can see exactly how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent I spoke with confirmed I needed to wait until my original return was fully processed, but she also gave me specific guidance for my situation that I couldn't find anywhere online. Totally changed my perspective on dealing with the IRS.

Ok I have to eat my words. After complaining about Claimyr I actually tried it yesterday out of desperation (was on hold with IRS for 3 HOURS before getting disconnected). It actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back in about 35 minutes, and when my phone rang, there was an IRS agent on the line! The agent walked me through exactly what I needed to do with my 1040-X timing. For anyone dealing with this amendment situation - definitely wait until your original return is fully processed (about 3-4 weeks after acceptance), then file the amendment. The agent said filing too early could cause your amendment to be rejected or create processing delays.

Just wanna throw out a tip from personal experience. I'd recommend printing out a copy of your original return BEFORE you amend. While tax software keeps records, having a physical copy of both versions gives you something to reference if questions come up later. Also, make sure to include a brief explanation with your 1040-X about why you're amending (like "received additional W-2 after filing"). The clearer you make things for the IRS, the smoother the processing usually goes.

Anyone know if there's a specific cutoff for how small an amount needs to be before the IRS doesn't care? My missing W2 is only for like $120 from a job I quit in 2022 but they paid out final vacation time in January. Seems like a lot of hassle for such a tiny amount that barely changes my tax situation.