Missing W2 from when I was a minor - no mail or ADP access, HR is blocked. What can I do?

Thanks for this info. I have a similar situation but with a 1099 instead of a W2. Would I still use Form 4852 or is there a different form for independent contractor work? Also, do I need to wait until after the filing deadline to contact the IRS about the missing form?

For a missing 1099, you would not use Form 4852, which is specifically for W-2 substitution. You actually don't need a substitute form for 1099 work - you're required to report all income even without the form. Just use your own records to report your earnings accurately on Schedule C. You don't need to wait until after the filing deadline to contact the IRS. In fact, it's better to contact them as soon as possible so they can help you get the documentation you need to file accurately and on time.

Does taxr.ai work if I literally have no documents at all? I got paid in cash for a summer job and the business closed down. I know I should have kept better records but I was stupid and now I'm worried.

I'm a bit skeptical about services like this. How does taxr.ai actually get your W2 info if your employer won't provide it? Seems like they'd run into the same roadblocks we do. Is this just a way to estimate your income or do they somehow get the actual document?

For cash payments with no documents, they actually have specialized tools to help reconstruct your income based on bank deposits or even your spending patterns. They can't create records out of nothing, but they're surprisingly good at piecing together evidence of income from indirect sources. They don't necessarily get the actual W2 for you. What they do is help you accurately reconstruct the information that would be on your W2 using available data points. They can analyze bank deposits, pay stubs, or other financial records to determine your earnings and withholdings. This gives you defensible numbers to use on Form 4852 (substitute W2) that would stand up to IRS scrutiny if needed.

How does this actually work? I thought the IRS phone system was just perpetually overwhelmed and there wasn't any way around the wait times. Are they somehow jumping the queue or do they just save you from having to stay on hold?

Sounds like a scam to me. No way some random service can get you through to the IRS faster than doing it yourself. Plus are you really comfortable giving your tax info to some third party? Hard pass.

The service doesn't jump the queue - they simply navigate the phone tree and get you into the callback system so you don't have to stay on hold. It's like having someone else sit on hold for you. They don't actually talk to the IRS for you or access any of your personal tax information. They use a combination of automated systems and live operators to continuously call the IRS and navigate those annoying phone menus until they can request a callback for you. There's no magic backdoor - they're just taking the painful part of the process off your hands. When the IRS is ready for your call, they connect you directly so you're the one actually speaking with the IRS agent.

That's actually super helpful to know! I definitely had taxes taken out of each check. Do you know if I need to file state taxes too? I'm in Illinois if that matters.

Yes, you should file state taxes for Illinois as well. Illinois has a flat income tax rate (currently 4.95%), and similar to federal taxes, if you had state taxes withheld from your paychecks, you'll likely get that money back if your income was only $3,200 for the year. The good news is that most tax software will let you file both federal and state returns, and will walk you through the process for both. Many of them offer free filing for simple tax situations like yours.

This is actually not correct information. The wage and income transcript for 2024 is generally available by May-June of 2025. So it would be available before the October extension deadline if the OP needs to file an extension.