[Lateralus]

I usually do my taxes before getting my W2, working off of my last pay stub. My taxes are so simple that my W2 is just a repeat of what's on the final stub.

Last year I waited a little later into January, but I've got the stuff all ready in TurboTax now. Don't wanna jump the gun though.

Does anybody know the earliest date it can all be transmitted?

[Dakar²]

I thought anytime in the new year is ok.

[osiris]

Anytime. But your refund may be delayed. Last year I filed in late January and had to wait until March for my refunds, and that was with direct deposit. But there may have been a glitch on their side.

[Big Mac]

Ned Flanders files extra early.

[zerostar]

I filed already, Jan. 13th was the earliest TurboTax would let me file... Said it was waiting for a form...

[Eriamjh]

You can prepay for next year right now.

The problem with Turbo Tax is sometimes they don't get the latest updates for the forms, laws, or bugs until the end of january or later (and even later for the Mac version. Boot Camp comes in handy!). I'd hate to file early and then have a Turbo Tax update change something important.

[SirCastor]

eFiling I don't think was actually open until the 16th, but I'm not sure. You can file right now.

[Lateralus]

New question then guys; I need the EIN for my employer and don't want to wait for my W2 to arrive. I asked the guys at Jackson Hewitt and they gave me the FedEx EIN that they had on file and when I got home to try it I found that it's one digit too long.

Any idears?

[Art Vandelay]

Look at your 2005 W2 if it's with the same employer.

[Lateralus]

Yeah, I was able to do that last year since my employer had been the same three years straight. This will be my first FedEx W2 though.

[Art Vandelay]

You might just have to wait for your W2 then. A company as big as FedEX may have different EINs for different units. You should be getting it any day now so you shouldn't have to wait long.

[SirCastor]

I think the Federal Req. for W2s is that they have to be sent out by Jan. 31.

[andi*pandi]

I've already got my W2s. That said, we won't file til the post office closes April 17, my husband doesn't like to give the govt money any earlier than he has to. (because 15 falls on a sunday and monday is a holiday, we get until 17, right?)

[SirCastor]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

I've already got my W2s. That said, we won't file til the post office closes April 17, my husband doesn't like to give the govt money any earlier than he has to. (because 15 falls on a sunday and monday is a holiday, we get until 17, right?)

If you get a refund though, you're letting the government keep your money for as long as possible though (and you can bet that they've got it earning interest somewhere)

[zerostar]

Well, if your getting a refund you let them keep it all year earning THEM interest, so what another few weeks... I hate letting the Feds keep my money, I usually like to owe a little bit.

[andi*pandi]

we keep our withholdings close to the line. Haven't got a refund since we married.

[SVass]

You can submit by mail whenever you want. If you want to use the phone, then call and ask. If you don't know your employer's secret number, do not worry about it. I have been submitting forms for years without that claptrap. (I just checked and found out that the number doesn't appear in any forms submitted except for a W-2 that shows withholding and your employer printed that.) Remember that the IRS uses PCs and has a "software modernization" project that may be completed "soon".

The W-2 is required to be submitted if you had withholding. The penalty for late filing and/or non filing is usually a percentage of the tax owed. If you don't owe anything, then the penalty may not exist. Last year, they lost my payment check when their truck fell off the bay bridge. Al least, that was their excuse (and they didn't charge me for late payment.) sam