[danielr]

How do you do your taxes without a w2 and will you get penalized for doing them late if your supposed to get a refund

[ScottGem]

Your employer is required to provide a W2 by the end of January. You still need to file an estimated return or a request for an extension by 4/15to avoid penalties.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

Scott:

Hate to correct you again, but if a refund is due, NO PENALTIES will be assessed for filing late, even if the taxpayer failed to file an extension.

It is my humble opinion that filing an extension is a huge waste of time if the taxpayer is due a refund.

For the past ten years, I have serviced at least one new client each year who has not filed tax returns for several years.

Once I convince them that they are NOT going to jail, I prepare their returns, they sign and mail them in, and they are very happy to get two or three refund checks PLUS interest (the IRS has been paying interest on over-due refunds for over ten years now).

Now, if DanielR has NO W-2 (but he should have one) and the employer cannot provide one (possibly because the employer is out of business), DanielR should request a copy of his tax script for the year in question from BOTH the IRS and the state tax department. Both agencies will provide these scripts to the taxpayer at no charge; he need only call them and ASK!

Once he has those tax scripts, he can take them to any competent tax professional who can re-produce the W-2 and file the return.

[Mobea]

Note: Refunds are only available for 3 years prior to current tax year filing. Anything after that is forfeited.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

Mobea makes a good point!

To clarify, the actual deadline is the three-year anniversary of the original filing deadline.

Hence, for the 2006 tax year, the original filing deadline is 18 April 20007, so you must file by 18 April 2010 to claim a refund for tax year 2006.

[ScottGem]

If I'm wrong please DO correct me. So whoops again.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

We all make mistakes! It is what makes us human! :-)