@user17577024912 ,
Based on your post and timeline you provided,
(a) Since you worked in Pakistan for Jan through Nov of 2024, the W-2 is in error. At most your employer should have issued a 1099-NEC -- just to document the amounts paid to you ( whether to bank in California or somewhere else.). I say this because 1. IRS generally recognizes earning source as the same as where the work is performed --- except in clearly defined very short term assignment e.g. you go to a customer site to repair machinery or update /test software . This is not your case --- you were not allowed to come back to the USA and probably did not have a return ticket to prove your intent.
(b) Under US-Pakistan tax treaty, a US resident working in Pakistan for less than 183 days is generally not taxed on income from foreign employer. You cannot assert this because you are a citizen and resident of Pakistan and stayed the whole 2024 in Pakistan.
(c) This leads to an issue ---- you do not have to file a tax return in the USA. However, not filing a return means the taxes withheld by the US ( fed and State) cannot be refunded to you without a filing. You also need to file a return for Pakistan to be able to tax you on this income.
I would strongly suggest that you consult a local tax professional / CPA to help you in filing a Pakistani IT return and (if possible) claim double taxation benefit because you have already paid US taxes.
You may also contact your employer in the USA for any help ( they have already transferred Fed, State and FICA taxes to the respective orgs.)
Is there more I can do for you .
Salam Aliquom
pk
