Missing Your W-2? Here’s What to Do

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The information in this article is up to date for tax year 2023 (returns filed in 2024).

With the tax season in full swing, you’re probably eager to get your hands on your W-2 so you can file your taxes and claim your refund.  Employees who earned $600 or more for the year should have been mailed a copy from their employer by January 31^st. The problem is you’ve given it a couple weeks to arrive and your still haven’t received a W-2.  What should you do?

Check your email or paycheck portal

Many companies now issue W-2s electronically, so the first place you should check is your emails.  Specifically, your spam or junk folder.  It’s always possible that it accidentally wound up there instead of your inbox.  If you have an employee portal where you can access your paycheck information and timecards, log in to see if you can download your W-2.

Call your employer

Still coming up emptyhanded?  Contact your employer.  Ask them when and how the form was sent.  Then verify the mailing address they have on file to ensure it wasn’t sent to the wrong place.  If necessary, update your information and ask them to reissue your W-2.

Contact the IRS

If the end of February rolls around and you’re still not having any luck, it’s time to get the IRS involved.  They will contact the employer on your behalf and try to get your missing W-2.  The IRS can be reached at 1-800-829-1040.  Be ready to provide the following information:

• Your name, address, Social Security number and phone number
• Your employer’s name, address, and phone number
• The dates you worked for the employer
• An estimate of your wages and federal income tax withheld last year.  You can find this information on your last paystub of 2023.

File Form 4852 with your tax return

All taxpayers are expected to file by April 15th even if you haven’t received your W-2.  In this instance, use your final paystub of the year to estimate your wages and taxes withheld.

This is a last resort, where you can file your return with Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.  This option is for taxpayers who:

• Haven’t received a W-2
• Their employer issued an incorrect W-2

Please keep in mind that it may take longer for your return to be processed because the IRS needs time to verify that the information is accurate.  The fastest and ez-iest way to do your taxes is with ezTaxReturn.  With our step-by-step guidance, you can get your biggest possible refund.

Please also note that in this case, if you receive your W-2 after filing and realize that the information doesn’t match what was reported on your return, you will need to file an amended tax return.

The articles and content published on this blog are provided for informational purposes only. The information presented is not intended to be, and should not be taken as, legal, financial, or professional advice. Readers are advised to seek appropriate professional guidance and conduct their own due diligence before making any decisions based on the information provided.