One more resource that might help - if you remember the approximate dates you worked there, you can also try contacting your state's Department of Labor or Workforce Commission. They maintain records of employers in the state for unemployment insurance purposes, and these records typically include EINs. In Connecticut specifically, you'd want to reach out to the Connecticut Department of Labor. They might be able to provide the EIN if you can give them the company name, address, and approximate timeframe of your employment. Also, if the company had any professional licenses or certifications relevant to their industry, those are often searchable through state licensing boards and sometimes include EIN information in the public records. The combination of checking your 401(k) account (as mentioned above) and doing a quick Google search for the company name + EIN seems to work for most people before having to go the official transcript route.

Based on my experience dealing with similar situations, I'd recommend starting with the fastest options first before moving to the more time-consuming methods: 1. **Check your 401(k) or retirement account** - As StarStrider mentioned, this is often the quickest win. Log into any old retirement accounts from that employer. 2. **Search your email** - Look for any automated payroll emails, benefits enrollment confirmations, or tax document notifications. These sometimes contain EINs in the fine print. 3. **Contact your tax preparer** - If you used a professional tax preparer during those years, they often keep copies of all documents including W-2s with the EIN. 4. **IRS Wage and Income Transcript** - This is your most reliable backup plan. It's free and will definitely have the information, though it takes a bit longer. The key is to exhaust the quick options first since you're dealing with back taxes and probably want to get this resolved as soon as possible. I've found that most people can locate their EIN through one of the first three methods without having to wait for official transcripts. Also, once you do find it, make sure to save it somewhere secure along with other important tax information for future reference!

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who's been on an installment plan for over 3 years now. The CP89 statements are definitely helpful when they arrive in January/February, but I've found that setting up the online account at irs.gov is absolutely worth the initial hassle. Yes, the setup process can be frustrating (took me three attempts), but once you're in, you can track everything in real-time. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're making extra payments beyond your required monthly amount to pay down the balance faster, those show up immediately in the online account but might not be as clear on the annual CP89 statement. The online system breaks down exactly how much of each payment goes toward principal vs. interest and penalties, which is super helpful for planning. Also seconding the advice about keeping bank records. I actually scan and save mine digitally along with screenshots from my online IRS account each month. Takes 2 minutes but gives me complete peace of mind that I have documentation of every transaction.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been on an installment plan for about 4 months now and was getting anxious about not receiving any kind of statement or confirmation beyond the initial setup paperwork. Reading about the CP89 notices coming in January/February puts my mind at ease - at least I know what to expect and when. I'm definitely going to try the automated phone line at 1-800-829-1040 that several people mentioned. The idea of getting a balance update in just a few minutes without dealing with hold times sounds amazing. I'm also taking everyone's advice about keeping detailed records. Starting this month, I'm going to save my bank statements and take monthly screenshots of my online account (once I finally get it set up properly). After hearing about payment discrepancies, it's clear that having your own documentation is crucial when dealing with the IRS. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't find in the official IRS publications!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! Based on what you've all shared, I think I figured out what happened. The DoorDash income definitely explains a big chunk of it - I had no idea about self-employment tax being so much higher. Plus looking at my W-2, I only had about $2,800 withheld for federal taxes from my main job, which seems low based on what Gabriel mentioned. I'm going to double-check my FreeTaxUSA entries to make sure I didn't miss anything, but it sounds like this might just be the reality of having mixed W-2 and 1099 income without planning ahead. Lesson learned for next year - I'll either set aside money quarterly or adjust my W-4 to have more withheld from my regular job to cover the gig work taxes. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this stuff. Tax season is so confusing when you're just starting out!

Great thread everyone! As someone who's been through this exact situation, I wanted to add that FreeTaxUSA actually has a really helpful "Why do I owe?" feature that breaks down exactly where your tax liability is coming from. If you go back into your return, there should be a summary page that shows the breakdown between regular income tax and self-employment tax. Also, for anyone doing gig work going forward - consider opening a separate savings account and automatically transferring 25-30% of your gig earnings into it throughout the year. That way you're not hit with a surprise tax bill. I learned this the hard way after owing $1,800 my first year doing Uber on top of my regular job! The IRS also has a safe harbor rule - if you pay at least 100% of last year's tax liability through withholding and estimated payments, you won't owe penalties even if you end up owing more at filing time. Something to keep in mind for planning next year.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I was in a very similar situation when my husband stopped working to care for our newborn. Beyond the tax advantages everyone mentioned, there are some practical benefits to filing jointly that aren't always obvious. For instance, if you ever need to apply for certain government programs or benefits, having a joint return can sometimes be required or preferred. Also, if your wife decides to go back to work later in the year or starts any freelance/gig work, filing jointly makes it much easier to handle those income changes without having to amend returns. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you're both familiar with the tax return details even though only one of you is earning. Banks, mortgage companies, and other financial institutions will often want to see both spouses' information when you apply for loans or refinancing, and it's helpful if you're both up to speed on your tax situation. The bottom line is definitely file jointly - you'll save money and avoid complications down the road!

Great question! I went through this exact same situation two years ago when my spouse became a stay-at-home parent. Everyone here is absolutely right - filing jointly is definitely your best option and you cannot claim your spouse as a dependent under any circumstances. One additional tip I'd share: since you're now the sole income earner, this might be a good time to review your tax withholdings at work. You may want to adjust your W-4 to account for the fact that you're supporting a family on one income. Sometimes people find they're having too much tax withheld and could benefit from having more money in their paychecks throughout the year instead of waiting for a big refund. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're taking advantage of dependent care credits if you're paying for any childcare expenses, and consider maxing out any pre-tax benefits your employer offers like health savings accounts or dependent care FSAs. These can provide additional tax savings that really add up when you're on a single income. The transition to one income can feel overwhelming tax-wise, but married filing jointly will definitely give you the best outcome!

Quick question - wouldn't this be considered a de minimis amount that the IRS wouldn't really care about? I mean, we're talking about $1600 on which the tax would be what, maybe $160? Is it really worth going through the hassle of amending?

I was in a very similar situation with my Pell grant refund a couple years back. Here's what I learned after going through this whole process: First, pull up your actual 2022 tax return and check if that $1600 was included in your total income. If your AGI shows around $10,900 ($9,300 job + $1,600 excess grant), then you're all set and don't need to do anything. If it only shows the $9,300 from your job, then technically you should amend to include the taxable scholarship income. The good news is that at your income level, the additional tax owed would be minimal - probably around $160-240 depending on your filing status. The IRS does receive copies of 1098-T forms, so they could potentially notice the discrepancy, but honestly for such a small amount and given that you're clearly trying to be compliant, it's unlikely to be a major issue. Still, it's better to be accurate. One tip: if you do need to amend, you can file Form 1040X for free through the IRS website. It's actually pretty straightforward for something like this where you're just adding income.