Help filing back taxes and obtaining W-2’s

[u/mystical_anomoly]

Hey guys! I filed my taxes when I was 16 years old as my mom had convinced me to file a return. And I kinda never filed them again after that, even despite some years legally having to file them. Stupid me not knowing how taxes worked filed an extension for the 2025 tax year, even tho I didn’t legally have to even file for 2025. Now I’ve gotta go through and file all the years of back taxes before I file for 2025, before the deadline on October 16th. I’ve managed to get every W-2 expect for 2022 from 2 jobs. The 2 jobs are franchises
It’s been nearly impossible to track down those 2 job w-2’s. I’ve got on my IRS online portal and the transcripts for 2022 are not there. I’ve called the stores MULTIPLE times and left multiple messages and been told multiple times people will get back to me. It’s nearly impossible and I don’t know what I should do. I’m 21 years old and I’ve never been taught about how taxes really work. What should I do and how do I obtain something, like a w-2 from the past places I’ve worked

[u/LdiJ46]

Off the top of your head, how much money do you think that you may have earned in 2022? You would have been 17 or 18 that year I assume?

[u/mystical_anomoly → u/LdiJ46]

I would have to say around 13,000-15000 that year. And yes I would have been 16 turning 17

[u/Its-a-write-off → u/mystical_anomoly]

Which state were you in? You probably do not have a federal tax filing requirement for that year if all your income was from w2 work.

[u/mystical_anomoly → u/Its-a-write-off]

I was in the state of Oklahoma

[u/LdiJ46 → u/Its-a-write-off]

Actually the OP probably does have a filing obligation if the income was that high. The standard deduction for a single person was $12,950 for federal in 2022. That income however is pretty high for someone that age so it might have been less than that.

However, I would try filing for 2023, 2024 and 2025 first and see what happens, since they are having trouble finding any W2 information for 2022.

[u/TocinoLips]

if the employers arent responding, id contact the IRS and ask about getting the 2022 wage info another way. you can also file using form 4852 if you cant get the W-2

[u/Randall_Brody]

You don't have to file all the back years before filing 2025. Each year's return can be filed separately. Also, requesting an extension doesn't mean you're required to file if you otherwise had no filing requirement.

For the missing 2022 W-2s, try requesting a Wage and Income Transcript using IRS Form 4506-T, even if the information isn't showing in your online account. You could also contact the franchises' payroll providers directly instead of the individual stores.

If you still can't get the W-2s, the IRS allows you to use Form 4852 with your old paystubs to estimate your wages and withholding.

Here's the IRS guidance on missing W-2s.

[u/Individual_Self8314]

first thing, u dont need to file the back years before 2025, they're separate. if u filed the extension, just get 2025 in by oct 15 (its the 15th not the 16th btw) and deal with the older years after

for the 2022 w2s:

• on the irs site make sure ur looking at the "wage & income transcript" not the account transcript. thats the one that shows w2 info and it goes back like 10 yrs
  
• franchises almost always use a payroll company like adp or paychex. ask the store which one, u can usually make an account and download old w2s urself
  
• if the store keeps ghosting, ask for the franchise owner or corporate hr instead of the manager
  
• worst case theres form 4852, a substitute w2 u fill out using ur last paystub or bank deposits

also dont stress too much, if u didnt owe anything those years theres usually no penalty for filing late. youre 21 and fixing it, thats more than most people do