I'm 19 and confused about filing my first tax return - need advice about deadlines and W2 forms?

First of all, don't panic! Let's break this down into manageable pieces. For your immediate concern: Yes, you can still file your taxes even if the deadline has passed, but you might face some penalties if you owed taxes. If you're actually due a refund, there's no penalty for filing late (but you want to file within 3 years or you'll lose your refund). For your questions: 1. Your W-2 should be provided by your employer by January 31st each year. Many employers now offer electronic versions through their HR portals, but they're also required to mail you a physical copy if you don't opt for electronic delivery. 2. Free tax filing services can be excellent for straightforward tax situations. The IRS Free File program partners with several tax software companies to provide free filing for people making under $73,000. TurboTax, H&R Block, and FreeTaxUSA all have free options with varying limitations. 3. Taking pictures of receipts is smart! But you'll only need them for deductible expenses if you itemize deductions. At 19 with your first job, you'll likely take the standard deduction, which is simpler. 4. Quarterly tax payments are primarily for self-employed people or those with significant income not subject to withholding. If you're a W-2 employee, your employer handles withholding for you. 5. Premium versions of tax software are worth it if you have complicated situations - multiple income sources, investments, self-employment, rental properties, etc. For a first-time filer with one job, the free version is probably sufficient. 6. Tax software will calculate what you owe or what refund you'll receive based on the information you input. 7. That video is correct! The IRS Free File program is underutilized but a great resource for eligible taxpayers.

After reading your post, I totally feel your pain! I was in the exact same boat last year at 20. I spent hours trying to figure everything out and kept hitting dead ends until I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). It was seriously a game-changer for me as a first-time filer. What I loved about it was how it analyzed all my tax documents (like that W2 you mentioned) and explained everything in super simple terms. It even caught a mistake with my education credits that would have cost me about $1,000! The site actually walks you through everything step by step, perfect for those of us filing for the first time. For all your questions about receipts, quarterly payments, and free vs paid options, it gives personalized guidance based on your specific situation instead of generic advice. It helped me understand exactly what deductions I qualified for with my 529 and IRA contributions too.

Hey everyone, I need to follow up about taxr.ai that I was skeptical about earlier. I actually ended up giving it a try after struggling with another tax program, and wow - I was completely wrong to doubt it. The system found THREE mistakes in my W-2 that my employer had filed incorrectly (wrong state tax withholding amounts) and guided me through getting it fixed. For a first-time filer like the original poster, I think this would be especially helpful because it explains everything in normal human language. It caught that I was eligible for education credits I didn't know about from a community college class I took last year. The document analysis literally pointed out specific boxes on my forms that contained errors or opportunities. Definitely not the scam I initially worried it might be!

Reading about your tax struggles reminds me of my nightmare trying to get answers from the IRS last year. I spent WEEKS calling them about a similar late filing situation, constantly getting disconnected or waiting on hold for hours. I finally discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) through a friend who works in accounting. I was super skeptical at first, but I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and decided to give it a shot since I was desperate. Basically, they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks on my own. The agent was able to confirm I wouldn't face penalties for my late filing since I was due a refund (sounds like your situation too), and they walked me through exactly what forms I needed to submit. Having an actual IRS person answer my specific questions was invaluable.

Alright, I need to eat my words about Claimyr from my previous comment. After struggling for nearly 3 weeks trying to reach someone at the IRS about my late filing situation (similar to OP's), I broke down and tried it. I was literally connected to an IRS agent in 18 minutes when I'd been trying unsuccessfully for weeks. The agent was able to confirm that I didn't owe any penalties since I was due a refund and gave me direct answers about how to handle my situation with my missed filing from last year. For what it's worth to the original poster - the IRS agent confirmed that if you're owed a refund, there's no penalty for filing late (though you generally have 3 years to claim your refund before you lose it). They also directed me to the exact forms I needed for my situation. Having actual official answers instead of just advice from Reddit made a huge difference for my peace of mind.

Hey, I just wanted to add something about those tax documents you mentioned (FIFO, Specific Identification, etc). Those are mostly for investment transactions, which is pretty advanced for a first-time filer! If you're actually investing already at 19, that's awesome, but don't overcomplicate your first tax return. For most 19-year-olds with their first job, you'll have a pretty straightforward return with just your W-2. The standard deduction for 2023 (filing in 2024) is $13,850 for single filers, which means if you earned less than that from your job, you won't owe any federal income tax at all. About your 529, IRA, HSA, and charity accounts - these are great financial planning tools, but they impact your taxes differently: - Contributions to a Traditional IRA can be deductible - HSA contributions are deductible if the HSA is qualified - 529 plan contributions aren't federally tax-deductible (some states offer deductions) - Charitable donations only help tax-wise if you itemize deductions (most young people take the standard deduction

About your question on receipts - I learned this the hard way! Taking pictures is great, but you need to know WHICH receipts actually matter for taxes. For most young people with one job, receipts usually don't matter because you'll take the standard deduction ($13,850 for 2023 if you're single). The only receipts that might help you would be for: 1. Unreimbursed job expenses IF you're self-employed (not for regular W-2 jobs) 2. Charitable donations (only if you itemize, which most young people don't) 3. Medical expenses (only if they exceed 7.5% of your income AND you itemize) 4. Education expenses for certain credits 5. Moving expenses for military So unless you fall into these categories, you probably don't need to worry about keeping all those receipt pictures!