Hi there,

So 3 years ago I moved out when I was 18. I was given a job and highered on as self contracted. It was up to me to keep track of my wage through invoices and what not.

I did this, but being 18 and ignorant I did not make a back up. After I left the job my hard drive crashed losing everything I needed to submit my taxes.

I immediately went to my old boss for some help. I realize that this is entirely my own fault. I know I made around 11,000 while working there but do not know the exact amount. She continuted to tell me she'd look for a copy of my invoices but would never get back to me, no matter how much or how politely I went about it.

3 years later and I've totally given up on her doing anything to help, not sure what to do.

What are the penalties and anything that can be done to help me out?

First, contact the IRS and ask them to send you the tax transcript for Calendar Years 2008, 2009 and 2010 to determine what THEY have on file for your tax records. They may have NOTHING, or they may show what you were paid via the Form 1099-MISC your "employer" should have been submitting every year.

Once you have that, you can file your tax returns based on the tax transcript information if you determine that it is accurate.

If there is NOTHING on the tax transcripts, then you need to file based on other records, like perhaps your bank records which show what was deposited during that period.

If the IRS has no paper trail from Form 1099-MISC, they basically will have to take your word for it in terms of what you earned.

The methodolgy described above has worked multiple times when I have reconstructed tax records for clients in similar situations as yours.

BTW, speed is of the essence for 2008. If you earned ONLY $11,000 over three years, you will owe NO federal income tax and VERY LITTLE self-employment taxes, but there are credits that you can receive in 2008 (such as the Recovery Rebate Credit) that you will FORFEIT if you do not file by 15 April 2012.

If you want my professional help, double-click on my title above and scroll down to my profile/signature. You will find my email address and websites there.

Thank you very much for your answer.
I thought it would be a fairly simple answer as I can't be the first person in this situation.
Thank you again.

Glad to help!