Missed filing my 2023 taxes completely - am I in serious trouble with the IRS?

You're definitely not "cooked," but you should address this sooner rather than later. The IRS often takes time to catch up with unfiled returns, sometimes more than a year, so the lack of notices isn't unusual. The penalties for not filing when you owe include a failure-to-file penalty (5% of unpaid taxes per month, up to 25%) and a failure-to-pay penalty (0.5% per month), plus interest. The good news is that if you're due a refund, there's actually no penalty for filing late - you just lose your refund if you wait more than 3 years. Your tax preparer can absolutely handle both your 2023 and 2024 returns at the same appointment. Just make sure to gather all your W-2s from 2023 beforehand - you can get copies from your employers or request wage transcripts from the IRS using Form 4506-T. Don't stress too much about this. It's a common situation, and the sooner you file, the less you'll pay in penalties. Bring it up with your tax preparer at your appointment, and they'll help you sort everything out.

I was in a really similar situation last year - had multiple W-2s, missed the deadline, and then just kept putting it off. The anxiety kept building until I finally used taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to help me sort through my backlog of tax documents. The tool analyzed all my scattered W-2s and even helped identify some deductions I didn't know I qualified for. The best part was how it organized everything for my late filing - made the whole process way less intimidating. My penalties ended up being much lower than I feared because it helped me find some offsetting credits. Their customer service actually walked me through how to handle communication with the IRS about my late filing, which was incredibly helpful since I was terrified of making things worse. Definitely worth checking out if you're feeling overwhelmed.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai that someone mentioned earlier. I was freaking out about my unfiled 2023 taxes and had a bunch of W-2s scattered everywhere. The document scanning feature saved me so much time - it pulled all the info from my messy W-2s in minutes. What really surprised me was it found a educational credit I qualified for that I had no idea about. Ended up actually getting a small refund instead of owing, which means no failure-to-file penalties (since those only apply when you owe taxes). They have this really helpful checklist for catching up on late returns that walks you through exactly what to do step by step. Honestly way easier than I expected. My returns are submitted now and I can finally stop worrying about the IRS coming after me!

If you're worried about getting through to the IRS to figure out your situation, I'd recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with unfiled taxes and needed to talk to someone at the IRS urgently about possible penalties. I tried calling the IRS directly and kept hitting dead ends with their automated system or waiting for hours. Then I found Claimyr and was skeptical, but their system actually got me connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works in their demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with explained my options for late filing and even helped me set up a payment plan right over the phone. Saved me from what could have been a much worse penalty situation.

Had to come back and admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After another week of failing to get through to the IRS myself (literally spent 3 hours on hold before getting disconnected), I gave it a try. Got connected to an IRS rep in about 20 minutes, and they were able to tell me exactly what I needed to do about my unfiled return situation. The agent even put notes in my file about my intent to file, which apparently helps if they start sending notices. The service actually works like they claim. They somehow navigate the phone system way more efficiently than I could. Saved me hours of frustration and probably helped prevent additional penalties by getting me the right information quickly.

Don't panic about not having received IRS notices yet. In my experience, they're extremely backlogged with processing returns and sending notices. After COVID, everything slowed down dramatically. For your 2023 return, here's what I suggest: 1) Collect ALL your W-2s first 2) If missing any, contact those employers right away 3) Get an IRS wage and income transcript as backup 4) Bring everything to your tax appointment The good news is that if you're owed a refund (which is possible despite your server income if you had enough withholding), there's no penalty for filing late. You have 3 years to claim a refund. If you do owe, your tax pro can help set up a payment plan. The penalties aren't as brutal as they sound if you handle it proactively.

Just my two cents, but I think you should definitely tell your tax preparer about the unfiled 2023 return during your appointment for 2024. They deal with this situation ALL THE TIME, trust me. When I worked as a server, I had a similar issue where I owed money multiple years and got overwhelmed. My tax guy handled everything - filed my back taxes, set up a payment plan, and even got some penalties reduced. It was way less painful than I expected. Don't try to handle the 2023 return yourself if you're already planning to see a professional for 2024. Let them handle both and do it right. The peace of mind is worth it, and they might save you money in the long run.

You're definitely not in as much trouble as you think! Missing one year happens more often than you'd expect, especially with multiple W-2s and website issues like you experienced. The lack of IRS notices is actually pretty normal - they're still working through backlogs and it often takes 12-18 months before they start sending letters about unfiled returns. Don't let that false sense of security fool you though - it's better to get ahead of it. Since you mentioned most of your income was from serving, there's a decent chance you might have had enough taxes withheld to cover what you owe, or you might even be due a refund. Server wages often have higher withholding rates, and if you're young, you might qualify for credits you don't know about. Definitely bring up the 2023 situation with your tax preparer at your scheduled appointment. They can handle both years efficiently and help you understand exactly where you stand. In the meantime, start gathering those 2023 W-2s - contact the employer with the website issues directly if needed, or you can request wage transcripts from the IRS. Don't stress too much about this. You're being proactive now, which is what matters. The penalties for late filing aren't pleasant, but they're manageable, especially if you file before the IRS gets around to creating a substitute return for you.