Just realized I had a third W2 after filing - DDD already scheduled. Amend now or wait?
I probably made a mistake when filing my taxes this year. I submitted with what I thought were all my W2s (just two of them) and actually got a deposit date for March 25th. But I just realized that one company I worked for briefly sent me another W2 before they changed their name/ownership. I'm pretty sure I need to deal with this somehow, but I'm not entirely familiar with the amendment process. It was only one paycheck on this W2, if that matters. Should I just amend now, or is it possible to just include this on next year's return? I've dealt with IRS issues before but never this particular situation.
12 comments
Matthew Sanchez
You need to file an amended return (Form 1040-X) exactly as soon as possible. The IRS gives you exactly 3 years from the original filing deadline to amend, but I'd do it within 30 days of receiving your refund. Waiting until next year could trigger a CP2000 notice and potentially result in 4.5% interest charges plus a 0.5% failure-to-pay penalty per month (up to 25% of unpaid tax). I'm really concerned you might face additional scrutiny if you don't correct this quickly.
0 coins
Ella Thompson
Hmm, how much $ are we talking about on that missing W2? If it's super tiny, might not be worth the hassle tbh. But def don't try to file it next yr - that's not how it works.
0 coins
JacksonHarris
•I'm glad I found this thread. Would it be better to wait until after receiving the refund to file the amendment? I don't want to mess up the current processing.
0 coins
Jeremiah Brown
•The threshold for materiality isn't relevant here. The Internal Revenue Code requires reporting ALL income regardless of amount. The amendment process shouldn't affect the current refund processing since they're handled by separate departmental workflows.
0 coins
Royal_GM_Mark
File an amendment. Use Form 1040-X. Wait for original refund first. Don't panic. Small amounts aren't priority for IRS. Still need to fix it though. If you need help understanding next steps, call the IRS directly. Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) can get you through to an agent quickly. Saved me hours of hold time. Their service connects you to IRS phone support without the wait.
0 coins
Amelia Cartwright
•Isn't this just paying for something you could do yourself for free? Couldn't you just keep calling the IRS until you get through? Why would anyone pay for this when patience is free?
0 coins
Chris King
•How exactly does the Claimyr process work? Do they just keep calling on your behalf until they get through, or do they have some special access line?
0 coins
Rachel Clark
•I used Claimyr last month when I had a similar amendment situation. According to the IRS website, average hold times were 45-90 minutes, but I got connected in 17 minutes exactly. The agent confirmed I should wait until my original refund processed before submitting the 1040-X. Worth every penny when you consider the value of your time.
0 coins
Zachary Hughes
I had almost the identical situation last year. Found a W2 for a short contract job after I'd already filed. Like finding a $20 bill in your winter coat, except this one comes with paperwork! I filed Form 1040-X after my original refund came through. Took about 16 weeks to process versus the 3 weeks my original return took. Much smoother than when I forgot to report a 1099 years ago and got an automated notice.
0 coins
Mia Alvarez
I'm not convinced amending is worth it if it's truly a small amount. The IRS has a materiality threshold they don't publicly disclose. They're not going to chase down every $50 discrepancy. Cost-benefit analysis, people! The processing centers are still backed up from the pandemic era. Your amendment might sit in a pile for 6+ months. But hey, if you can't sleep at night knowing you're technically not in compliance, by all means file that 1040-X. 😴
0 coins
Carter Holmes
•I appreciate your practical perspective! It's like that old saying about the IRS - they're not looking for perfection, just reasonable compliance. The tax code is basically 10,000 pages of exceptions to exceptions, so sometimes you have to make judgment calls based on the actual impact.
0 coins
Sophia Long
I've been through this amendment process twice before. First time was back in 2019 when I forgot a small 1099. Second time was in 2022 with a missing W2 from a temp job. Both times I waited until after receiving my original refund, then filed the 1040-X. I'm slightly worried for you because the IRS seems to be more aggressive with matching programs lately, so I'd definitely recommend amending rather than hoping they don't notice.
0 coins