I'd definitely recommend starting with the IRS online transcript service at irs.gov/transcripts - it's usually the fastest option if you can get through their identity verification. As a small business owner myself, I know how hectic things can get and record-keeping sometimes falls by the wayside! If you filed electronically, there's also a chance your tax software provider (TurboTax, H&R Block, etc.) might still have a copy in your online account. Also worth checking if you emailed it to yourself or saved it in cloud storage. The transcript is usually sufficient for most purposes, but if you specifically need the actual 1040 form with all attachments, you'll need to use Form 4506 with the $43 fee. What do you need it for? That might help determine which option would work best for your situation.

I actually went through this exact same situation last year when I needed my 2022 return for a business loan application. Here's what worked for me: I started with the IRS online transcript service, but like others mentioned, the identity verification can be tricky. When that didn't work, I called my tax preparer first - they had a copy on file and were able to email it to me within hours. If you did your own taxes, check your email for any confirmations from tax software companies, as they often include a PDF copy. For future reference, I now save three copies: one in my email, one in Google Drive, and one printed copy in my filing cabinet. The transcript is usually fine for most business purposes, but some lenders specifically want the actual 1040 form. What do you need it for? That might help narrow down which option would be most efficient for your timeline.

For valuing items like clothing and household goods, I've found the Salvation Army donation value guide really helpful: https://satruck.org/Home/DonationValueGuide It gives reasonable ranges for common household items in good condition. Most other big charities have similar guides. Just make sure your valuation makes sense - don't claim $100 for a used t-shirt or $1000 for a basic coffee table.

Great thread everyone! I just wanted to add a practical tip from my experience last year. When listing items over $500 separately on Section A, make sure you're being specific enough in your descriptions. Instead of just writing "clothing item - $600," I learned to be more detailed like "designer wool coat, excellent condition - $600" or "antique dining table, good condition - $750." The IRS instructions mention that descriptions should be "reasonably detailed," and I found that being specific helped me feel more confident about my valuations. It also made it easier when the charity needed to sign off on the form - they could actually visualize what I had donated rather than trying to remember generic categories. Also, if you're donating similar high-value items to the same charity on different dates, you can still group them on one line as long as you note the date range. For example: "2 designer suits, excellent condition, donated 3/15 and 4/22 - $1,200 total.

Just a heads up - if your parents are claiming you as a dependent, make sure you select the box that says "Someone can claim me as a dependent" on your federal W-4. This is super important! My son messed this up last year and it caused his withholding to be calculated incorrectly. The form assumes you're taking the standard deduction for a single independent person unless you check that box.

As someone who works in tax preparation, I want to emphasize something that might help clarify the confusion here. The W-4 form has two main purposes: 1) telling your employer your filing status and dependency situation, and 2) calculating how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck. For your specific situation as a part-time college student working 16 hours/week and claimed as a dependent, here's what you should do: 1. Make sure to check the box that says "Someone can claim me as a dependent" (as Miguel mentioned - this is crucial!) 2. Put "0.00" in the additional withholding amount box 3. Don't claim exempt from withholding unless you had zero tax liability last year AND expect zero this year The "0.00" doesn't mean zero taxes will be withheld - it means zero ADDITIONAL withholding beyond what the form calculates based on your pay and dependency status. Given your low hours and dependent status, this should result in appropriate withholding that covers any tax you might owe without taking too much from your small paychecks. If you end up working more hours (like summer full-time), you can always submit a new W-4 to adjust your withholding.

Quick question - I'm also a bandleader but I haven't been issuing 1099s because I thought we were all just splitting the income, not that I was paying them as contractors. Does it matter if the venue check is in my name but we just divide it up after the gig? Do I still need to do 1099s??

Just want to echo what others have said - you absolutely CAN issue 1099s as an individual! I went through this exact same situation with my photography side business a couple years ago. I was getting 1099s from wedding venues but paying assistants and second shooters throughout the year. One thing I learned the hard way: even though you're late on the 1099s, make sure you can still deduct those band member payments on your Schedule C for this tax year. The IRS doesn't require you to have issued 1099s to take the deduction - you just need to have proper records of the payments (bank statements, receipts, etc.). Also, don't stress too much about the penalties. For first-time filers who are clearly trying to do the right thing, the IRS is often more lenient than you'd expect, especially if you proactively file the late 1099s rather than waiting for them to come after you. Good luck!

Just wanted to add something that might help others in similar situations - when you're filling out your I-9 form for employment eligibility verification, that's completely separate from the tax ID discussion here. The I-9 is about proving you're authorized to work, while the W-4 form (where you provide your tax ID) is about tax withholding. I got these confused when I started my current job and was overthinking what documents I needed. Your employer will have you fill out both forms, but they serve different purposes. For the W-4, you'll use your SSN (or ITIN if applicable) as your tax ID, regardless of any business EINs you might have from past ventures. Hope that helps clear up another potential source of confusion for anyone going through the new employee paperwork process!

This is exactly the kind of confusion that trips up so many people! I went through something similar when I switched from freelancing back to regular employment. Just to reinforce what others have said - when an employer asks for your "tax ID" for a W-2 position, they're asking for your Social Security Number (SSN). That old EIN from your 2018 business is completely irrelevant for this situation, even though it does remain permanently associated with that business entity. The terminology can be really confusing because "tax ID" is such a generic term. Think of it this way: - Individuals use their SSN as their personal tax ID - Businesses use an EIN as their business tax ID - As a W-2 employee, you're being hired as an individual, not as a business Your new employer needs your SSN to properly report your wages to the IRS and Social Security Administration. Using the wrong number (like that old EIN) would create reporting problems and potentially mess up your Social Security earnings record. So go ahead and provide your SSN when they ask for your tax ID - that's exactly what they need for your W-2 employment!