Hey team, I really am asking for a friend; I’m kind of the only one of my friend group that made it out of menial labor jobs and figured out to navigate bureaucracy, so my friend asked me for help navigating this issue. Anyway, my bro spent last year working a coffee shop. All wages were paid in checks, but then he was terminated last fall. We’re currently on the phone with the bank to retrieve a check image to determine if these were business checks or personal checks. My buddy remembers filling out a form I9, but their W2 never came. He’s been calling the shop and his old boss, and just keeps getting hung up on. He emailed as well, but has received no response. Short of calling the IRS or sending a demand letter, we’re not sure what to do here. Def recommending he file an extension probably while this gets sorted out but I really feel for my friend because getting terminated was bad enough. Anyone have a recommendation in this one?

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AutoModerator t1_jaecszl wrote on February 28, 2023 at 8:48 PM

#2,124,235

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plowt-kirn t1_jaed9xg wrote on February 28, 2023 at 8:51 PM

#2,124,411

Does he have his last pay stub?

Was payroll outsourced to a third-party (ie: ADP, Paychex, etc.) or did the boss handle it in-house?

DeluxeXL t1_jaedtpr wrote on February 28, 2023 at 8:54 PM

#2,124,597

Ask the IRS for help.

W-2 - Additional, Incorrect, Lost, Non-Receipt, Omitted

Form W-2 and Form 1099-R (What to Do if Incorrect or Not Received)

If he has an IRS account, he can get his tax transcript, which might contain the missing W-2 that the IRS has received. Otherwise, he can reconstruct a substitute W-2 (called Form 4852) from pay stubs.

Possible-Range-3953 OP t1_jaekdsa wrote on February 28, 2023 at 9:36 PM

#2,127,011

Replying to plowt-kirn (#2,124,411)

Yeah, paid in checks, we’re trying to figure out currently if they were personal or business checks but yeah, currently no paystubs to go off of.

Dornith t1_jael7ld wrote on February 28, 2023 at 9:41 PM

#2,127,334

Replying to Possible-Range-3953 (#2,127,011)

Not a lawyer but I'm pretty sure they are legally obligated to give you pay stubs, either paper or digitally.

Possible-Range-3953 OP t1_jaem7u5 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 9:48 PM

#2,127,759

Replying to Dornith (#2,127,334)

Yeah I’m pretty sure they are too. Not sure why the owner just writing a check out to him was never questioned, but here we are. I wouldn’t know where to start with reporting that issue and getting that employer held accountable.