Need to amend 2023 return for missing W-2 - tax preparer never filed my docs

Yeah, you can file an amended return using Form 1040-X. It's not as bad as it sounds, but it's definitely more work than getting it right the first time. I had a similar situation where I forgot a 1099 last year, and it was a headache compared to just filing correctly from the start. Just be prepared that if you owe more taxes because of this missing W-2, you might have to pay interest and possibly penalties on the amount you should have paid originally. The IRS doesn't exactly cut you slack just because it was an honest mistake...

I'm in a similar boat right now... Does anyone know how long we have to amend a return? And what if the missing W-2 actually means I'd get a bigger refund? Would the IRS have eventually caught this on their own? I'm so nervous about messing with anything tax-related after the fact...

Here's what you need to do to fix this situation: 1. First, get a copy of your original 2023 return. You'll need this to complete the amendment. 2. Obtain Form 1040-X and instructions from the IRS website. 3. Fill out the form showing the original figures, the corrected figures, and the difference. 4. Attach a copy of the missing W-2 to your amendment. 5. Include a brief explanation of why you're amending (simply state you received an additional W-2 after filing). 6. Mail the amendment - you cannot e-file a 1040-X for 2023 returns. 7. Be prepared to wait 16+ weeks for processing. If you owe additional tax, pay it with the amendment to minimize interest and penalties. If you're due an additional refund, you'll eventually receive it after processing.

I had to call the IRS about my amended return and waited exactly 2 hours and 47 minutes before hanging up. Then I tried again the next day and waited 3 hours and 12 minutes with no answer. Finally used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) and got connected to an IRS agent in exactly 22 minutes. They confirmed my amended return would take approximately 20 weeks to process and verified they had received it. Is this normal processing time? I've heard some people getting theirs processed faster.

I'm not sure amending is always necessary. Back in 2019, I had a similar situation with a missing 1099, and the IRS eventually sent me a letter adjusting my tax amount. They have all the W-2 information reported to them directly, so they might catch this automatically. Why go through all the trouble of amending if they're going to catch it anyway? Seems like extra work that might not be needed...

I strongly recommend filing the amendment yourself rather than waiting. I waited for the IRS to catch a missing 1099 back on April 17, 2022, and they did eventually send a notice on January 23, 2023 - but they assessed penalties and interest dating back to the original due date. If I had amended on my own in May 2022 when I discovered the error, I would have saved nearly $200 in penalties. The IRS computers will eventually catch income mismatches, but they don't work in your favor timing-wise.

I might have some relevant experience here... I had a somewhat similar situation last year. I think it's important to note that if the missing W-2 would result in additional tax owed, you should probably file the amendment sooner rather than later. In my case, I waited about three months before filing my amendment, and the interest charges, while not enormous, were certainly noticeable. The actual amendment process wasn't as difficult as I feared, though it did take nearly 5 months for the IRS to process it completely.