@noviceattax let's focus on the expenses. What were these expenses? moving expenses?
if you were reimbused for moving expenses that was taxable income to you (and you can not take a deduction for them); they should be reflected in the W-2. When you paid the money back, and since it was within the same year, I would suspect it would reduce the W-2.
you get no tax benefit on the relocation expenses. In effect, since you repaid the relo expenses to the employer, you paid for that relocation personally and neither the employer or the IRS is going to help you out with that. Presumably you got a better paying job in CA, so in the end, you 'win',
it this crossed different tax years, then it would be quite the complex situation. There would be a path to resolution, but not easy. You don't appear to have that situation here.
Are you overthinking the situation and maybe best to wait until you actually have the W-2s in January?
