W2

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
September 25, 2020
2 replies
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So I found one of my W2's from two years ago when I was working for the summer at 15. I personally never filed it. But I am not sure if my foster parents at the time did, and I have no contact with them anymore. So my question is how do I find out if they filed it?

Not A Product Question

VolvoGirl

Level 15

Was that the only income you had that year? How much is it for? Any withholding in box 2? It's too late to get a refund for 2015. if it's over $6,300 you might have to file a return.

jordenmiller03Author

Level 2

So it wasn't from 2015 it was 2018, sorry for the confusion.

xmasbaby0

Level 15

@jordenmiller03 Okay---then you can file a tax return using 2018 forms. Again--the paper forms will be free to use and send except for the cost of an envelope and a stamp. It would not be free to use TurboTax software, but if you want to anyway here is a link for how to get it. A 2018 return cannot be e-filed. It can only be sent in by mail.

Online preparation and e-filing for 2016, 2017 and 2018 is permanently closed.

To file a return for a prior tax year

If you need to prepare a return for 2016, 2017, or 2018 you can purchase and download desktop software to do it, then print, sign, and mail the return(s)

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products/

You may also want to explore purchasing the software from various retailers such as Amazon, Costco, Best Buy, Walmart, Sam’s, etc.

Remember to prepare your state return as well—if you live in a state that has a state income tax.

When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s. Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.

Note: The desktop software you need to prepare the prior year return must be installed/downloaded to a full PC or Mac. It cannot be used on a mobile device.

If you are getting a refund, there is not a penalty for filing past the deadline. If you owe taxes, the interest/penalties will be calculated by the IRS based on how much you owe and when they receive your return and payment. The IRS will bill you for this; it will not be calculated by TurboTax.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

Opus 17

Level 15

Income earned from working is always filed on a tax return in your own name, even if you are someone else's dependent. You may be able to tell if a return was filed in your name by checking your IRS account online.

https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account

However, depending on your circumstances, it may not be able to verify you. Try it and see.

If a return was filed listing one W-2 but not all of them, you will need to file an amended tax return. If no tax return was filed for that year, you would file one tax return that lists all your income for the year.

Turbotax only supports back to 2017, so to go farther back you will need to download the correct year form 1040 and instructions from the IRS web site. If you were single with no kids, you can use the 1040-EZ form which you really should be able to do on your own.

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/prior-year

Now as a practical matter, if you were single with no kids, you were probably due a refund. If the IRS though you owed, they would be sending you bills. Any refund won't be paid if you file more than 3 years late, and there are no penalties for not filing if you would have been due a refund. So you can potentially ignore this. On the other hand, it certainly would not hurt to get all your finances in order and clear this up even if you won't get a refund, and it should be easy to do.

xmasbaby0

Level 15

I think your post is being misunderstood. You did not say the W-2 was from 2015--right? You said it is from two years ago when YOU were 15 years old. So---is that income from 2017 or 2018? You can still file a tax return to seek a refund if there is an amount shown in box 2 of the W-2 or an amount in box 17 for state tax withheld. Your tax return would be pretty simple to prepare on a paper tax form so that you do not spend money on tax software. Here are links to get the paper forms and the instructions for2016, 2017, and 2018--use the one for the year in which the income was received. The year will be near the top of the W-2.

Your parents could not put your W-2 on their tax return. Since you were 15 at the time you earned the wages, make sure you check the box that says you can be claimed as someone else's dependent. That will not prevent you from getting your refund if you have one coming to you.

https://www.irs.gov/filing/where-to-file-paper-tax-returns-with-or-without-a-payment

PRIOR YEAR FORMS FROM IRS

2016

Form 1040 https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040--2016.pdf

Form 1040 Instructions https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/i1040gi--2016.pdf

Form 1040A https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040a.pdf

Form 1040AInstructions https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/i1040a--2016.pdf

Form1040EZ https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/i1040gi--2016.pdf

Form 1040EZ Instructions https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040ez.pdf

2017

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/i1040gi--2017.pdf https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040--2017.pdf

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040a--2017.pdf