I accidentally used my 2022 W2 instead of my 2023 W2 for my 2024 tax return - what now?

This happens more often than you'd think! Don't worry, you're taking the right steps by addressing it quickly. Since the IRS already accepted your federal return, you'll need to file an amended return (Form 1040-X) with the correct W2 information. The good news is that you have until April 15, 2026 to file an amended return for your 2024 taxes, so you're well within the deadline. The IRS won't "reject" an already accepted return - they've processed it based on the information you provided, so the correction is now on you. For your state returns, since you haven't filed them yet, just use the correct W2 information. You'll likely have some discrepancy between federal and state for a while until your amendment is processed, but that's okay.

I was in almost the identical situation last year! I actually used the wrong W2 (from my old employer instead of my new one). I tried calling the IRS multiple times with no luck - constant busy signals or disconnects after waiting for hours. Then I found https://taxr.ai and uploaded my documents. Their system immediately flagged that I'd used the wrong tax year W2 and walked me through exactly how to properly file the amendment. Saved me so much stress trying to figure out if I was filing the amendment correctly. They even calculated the exact tax difference so I knew what to expect when the amendment was processed. The dashboard kept me updated throughout the whole process too.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after questioning it earlier. I decided to give it a try since I made a similar mistake (used the wrong 1099-NEC form). The document comparison feature was actually super helpful - it highlighted exactly which numbers were different between my filed return and correct documents. What I found most useful was that it showed me exactly what sections of the amendment form needed to be filled out based on my specific error. Saved me from having to google every little question about the amendment process. Their amendment tracker also gave me updates on the processing timeline that were way more specific than the IRS website. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind alone.

Anyone who's dealt with tax issues knows calling the IRS is an absolute nightmare. When I realized I submitted the wrong W2, I spent DAYS trying to get through to a human. Either busy signals or disconnected after holding for 2+ hours. Super frustrating. Finally found https://claimyr.com which got me connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. They have this crazy system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold FOR YOU, then calls you when an actual human agent is on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent confirmed exactly what I needed to do with my amendment and even gave me an estimate of processing time for my situation. So much better than guessing or getting general advice online.

I need to apologize for my skepticism about Claimyr. After filing with the wrong W2 and getting increasingly desperate to talk to the IRS, I decided to try it as a last resort. I was genuinely shocked when I got a call back in about 20 minutes saying an IRS agent was on the line. The agent walked me through exactly what I needed to do for my specific situation with the wrong W2, including which boxes on the 1040-X would need to be modified. She even gave me the direct line to check on my amendment status later. The best part was I didn't have to share any personal info with Claimyr - they just connected the call. Saved me literally hours of frustration and the agent I spoke with was super helpful. Sometimes my skepticism gets the better of me, but I'm glad I gave this a shot.

Don't mean to be that person, but how are you mixing up W2s from different years? They literally have the year printed in big font at the top. Maybe double check ALL your documents before filing next time?

For anyone wondering about timing - I filed an amended return for a similar issue (wrong 1099) in February last year. It took about 14 weeks to process. The IRS says to allow up to 16 weeks, but it could take longer during busy periods. Just make sure you pay any additional tax owed when you submit the amendment to avoid extra interest and penalties. The IRS will charge interest from the original due date until you pay.

This is exactly why I keep all my tax documents in separate folders by year now! Made a similar mistake a few years back with my 1099s and it was such a pain to fix. One thing I learned from that experience - when you file the 1040-X amendment, make sure to write a clear explanation in Part III about what happened. Something like "Used incorrect W-2 form from tax year 2022 instead of 2023" helps the IRS processor understand the situation quickly. Also, since you mentioned you haven't received your refund yet, the IRS will automatically adjust your refund amount once they process the amendment. If you end up owing more (which sounds likely given the raise), they'll reduce your refund accordingly. If you end up owing significantly more than your refund amount, you'll get a bill for the difference. The update in your post is really helpful for others - thanks for sharing how it worked out! That $4 refund check is probably just the remaining balance after they applied your original refund to the additional tax owed.