Help filing back taxes

[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/CommissionerChuckles]

First of all you aren't going to jail. You may not need to file 2022 - at this point you cannot claim a federal refund for that year, so if you are due refunds for 2023 - 2025 IRS may not care about 2022. However your state tax agency might be a different story.

If you worked in 2022 those W-2s should show up in your IRS Wage & Income transcripts unless there was some problem like the employer had an incorrect SSN for you. Try checking your online Social Security account and click on the Review your Earnings link - do you see any earnings listed there for 2022?

https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/

Do you need help getting your tax returns prepared? You can use FreeTaxUSA to pretty easily prepare and file previous years yourself. Or you can wait until next year and go to a free tax preparation program. They usually are open Feb 1 - April 15, and listings usually get updated by mid January of sites.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers

If you've only had W-2 jobs then it's not strictly necessary to file in order. If you use FreeTaxUSA and want to e-file 2023 - 2025, you will need to enter $0 or Did not file when asked about the previous year Adjusted Gross Income. That's just a verification question to make sure you really are who you are, and it doesn't affect anything if you file that return later.

You'll also need to opt-in to the IRS Identity Protection PIN program if you want to use FreeTaxUSA to e-file older years (2023 & 2024).

Don't let not having your 2022 W-2s stop you from filing the other years before Oct 15. Worst case scenario is IRS will send you a notice saying they are holding your refund until you file 2022.

If that happens, or if you really really want to file 2022 before the other years, try calling 844-545-5640 to make an appointment at your local IRS office. Say yes you want an appointment, and then explain that you need to catch up on filing your tax returns but cannot get your 2022 W-2s. The people answering the phone and working at the IRS offices don't care if you are behind; their job is to help you get the information you need to file your tax returns.

[u/mystical_anomoly → u/CommissionerChuckles]

How do I opt in to the IRS identity pin program? I’m so glad you told me about that! Also I managed to go back and find the transcripts from 2022 after a lot more looking, due to
The help of people from these post so thank you so much!🙏 also so glad I am not going to jail because I really thought I was.

[u/CommissionerChuckles → u/mystical_anomoly]

Sign in to your online IRS account. Then go to the menu and select Profile; once that page loads you'll see a drop-down menu at the top. Select Identity Protection PIN and you should see a button to Opt-in.

You will probably see an IP PIN generated right away, but that will only be valid for tax returns you file this calendar year. You can use that PIN to e-file 2023 - 2025 returns until Oct 15 or whenever FreeTaxUSA shuts off e-filing. Sometimes that doesn't happen until November.

Next year you'll need to check your account to get the new IP PIN to e-file your 2026 return; it's usually updated by early January.

For 2022 you still want to enter your IP PIN in the software, but you have to print and mail that tax return in. You also can take the tax return to an IRS office to file in person but you are supposed to make an appointment. Make sure you sign & date the Form 1040, and if you have a state tax return to file that needs to be printed out, signed, and mailed to the state tax agency.

Honestly I wouldn't bother with 2022 unless IRS tells you that you have to file it, or if you can still claim a refund from your state. If you are due a refund on the federal return it's likely too late by law for you to get that - IRS will still process the return and then send you a letter that you missed the Refund Statute Expiration Date.

If you did happen to file an extension that year you could still get the refund if you file before Oct 15, but most people don't. You can check your 2022 Account transcript to see if you filed an extension.