Employers have until January 31 to issue W-2's. You should certainly make sure that employer knows where to send your W-2---contact them and be certain they have your current mailing address. If they issue a W-2 to you, then you will be fine to enter it on your tax return. They have to send the same information to the IRS, so whatever they give you will match the information they give to the IRS.
If they fail to issue a W-2, there are steps you can take.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/income/help/what-if-it-s-february-but-i-still-don-t-have-my-w-2/00...
But you say they really wanted to pay you "under the table"----so it is also possible they are going to try to treat you as if you were an independent contractor. They could issue a 1099NEC to you. When you are treated like an independent contractor, there has been no tax, no Social Security or Medicare withheld from your paychecks, and you have to pay self-employment tax on that income. You can enter self-employment income even if they do not give you a 1099NEC.
If you get a 1099NEC
If you have self-employment income for which you will pay self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare, you will need to use online Premium software or any version of the desktop software download so that you can prepare a Schedule C for your business expenses.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/form-1099-nec/1099-nec/L5qTsBiSe_US_en_U...
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/self-employed/help/how-do-i-report-income-from-self-employment/00/...
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/self-employed/help/what-is-the-self-employment-tax/00/25922
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2902389-why-am-i-paying-self-employment-tax
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901340-where-do-i-enter-schedule-c
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3398950-what-self-employed-expenses-can-i-deduct
https://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/self-employed/self-employed-tax-deductions-
calculator-2021-2022-50907/
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901110-do-i-need-to-make-estimated-tax-payments-to-the-irs
If you live in a state with a state income tax, you might need to make estimated payments to your state.
If you do not want to use the expensive Premium software for your return, there are alternatives:
Use this IRS site for other ways to file for free. There are 8 free software versions available from the IRS Free File site
https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/
Or—if you live in certain states you may be eligible to use the new IRS Direct File
In Filing Season 2025, Direct File will be available in Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
https://directfile.irs.gov/
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2629
Post back for more help if you need it-----You might not know what kind of help you need until the end of January when you see what kind of tax document you receive from them.
**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.**
This answer has been verified for accuracy by an Intuit expert employee
