Will I get a W2 for working only 1 day on January 2nd, 2023?

Thanks for the info! I'm pretty sure they did withhold taxes from that single shift. If I can't get in touch with them directly, is there anything else I can do? I don't even have any pay stubs from them since I only worked the one day.

If you can't reach the employer, you have a couple options. First, wait until mid-February - sometimes W2s take longer to arrive in the mail than expected. If you still don't receive it, you can contact the IRS for help. They can reach out to the employer on your behalf. You'll need the company's name, address, and your dates of employment. The IRS usually starts this process after February 14th. You can call them at 800-829-1040 or use the "Where's My W2?" feature on the IRS website.

How accurate is this taxr.ai thing? I'm confused about how a website could help with missing tax documents. Did you have to provide your last paystub or something?

I'm interested but skeptical. How does it actually work with missing W2s? Does it contact the employer for you or is it more about helping you understand your options?

The accuracy was impressive - it actually analyzes the tax rules that apply to your specific situation. It doesn't need your last paystub, but if you have one, you can upload it and it'll extract the relevant information to help fill out substitute forms. It doesn't contact employers directly - instead it explains all your legal options and walks you through the process of either getting your W2 or filing without it. It breaks down the exact steps and documents you need, and explains how to estimate your withholdings if you don't have complete records. It saved me hours of confused Googling and stress!

Wait how does this actually work? Does this actually get you through to a real IRS person? My friend has been trying to call them for weeks about a similar issue.

This sounds too good to be true. The IRS is impossible to reach. If this actually works, why isn't everyone using it? I've literally spent entire afternoons on hold before.

Yes, it connects you with a real IRS agent! The service basically navigates the IRS phone tree for you and secures your place in line, then calls you back when an agent is available. It's like having someone wait on hold for you. It's probably not more widely known because it's relatively new. I think more people are discovering it every tax season though. I was just as skeptical as you are - I figured it was either a scam or wouldn't work. But after my third attempt waiting on hold for over an hour, I decided to try it. The IRS called me back in about 20 minutes, and I was able to get everything sorted out with my missing W2 situation.

That's really helpful! Do you know how long it usually takes for those records to show up in the transcript? Like if I'm trying to file my taxes soon, would that information already be there?

The wage and income transcripts usually aren't fully updated for the most recent tax year until late May or June. So for 2023 information, it probably won't be complete until May/June 2024. If you need to file before then and still don't have your W2, you'll likely need to use Form 4852 as others have mentioned. The transcript is more helpful for prior years or for double-checking that everything was reported correctly.

Just be careful using bank deposits to calculate wages. If taxes were withheld, your bank deposit would be less than your actual gross wages that need to be reported. It's important to report the full amount earned, not just what hit your bank account.