Tax season is heating up, and people all around the country are waiting impatiently to receive their W-2s so they can file their taxes and receive refunds. Yet, as the tax filing deadline draws nearer, you may wonder where your W-2 is. You can find your W-2 or file without it by following these easy steps.
Failed to provide W-2
W-2s must be issued to employees by January 31, but some companies drop them in the mail on that date, while others need help meeting the deadline. It's very normal if you still need to receive your W-2. There are still many ways to guarantee proper and timely filing.
First, we'll cover the fundamentals, including what a W-2 is and who is entitled to a copy.
A W-2 is a form that employees and employers fill out to report income and withholdings.
A W-2 form is filled out by your employer and includes data you'll need to file your taxes. Your annual salary and the federal, state, and other taxes deducted from your paycheck are detailed. As an added possibility, it may include details about the following:
Tips
Investments in a 401(k) (k)
Put money into a health savings account
Your company's contribution to your health insurance premiums
Other numerical expressions
A W-2 is given to those who are eligible for it.
If you're an employee, you should get a W-2 form every year (not an independent contractor). Aside from having numerous occupations in the same year, receiving multiple W-2s is possible if you switch jobs during the year or are an employee in more than one capacity.
If you're an independent contractor, though, rather than a W-2, the employer will issue you a 1099-NEC.
Similarly to how a W-2 details an employee's yearly earnings, a 1099-NEC details a contractor's annual compensation.
One major distinction between the two is that companies often do not deduct federal income taxes or Social Security and Medicare from contractor earnings when hiring independent contractors.
The contractor must calculate and remit these amounts four times a year.
Here's what you can do to track down your missing W-2 form.
Step 1: The best bet is to look it up online.
The W-2 form is increasingly being issued digitally by businesses. Email isn't a particularly secure method, and you should only count on sometimes receiving the form that way. Instead, they'll send you an email with a download link for the form you can access through a special website.
Some of those messages are in your spam folder or the wrong address. If you have yet to see the notification, check your spam folder.
Second, you should inquire with your employer.
If you cannot locate your W-2 online, you should contact your company's payroll or human resources department. It might have been returned to the company if the employee used an outdated or erroneous mailing address.
If you want a paper copy for your files, you can ask your company to reissue your W-2.
Your W-2 could be retrieved via TurboTax if lost in the mail. If your company gives you one, you can import it into TurboTax.
Step 3: Get in Touch with the Internal Revenue Service
Can anything happen if your company genuinely fails to provide you with a W-2? The company is no longer operating or simply isn't responding to your request for a W-2. The Internal Revenue Service should be contacted immediately.
If you have yet to receive your W-2 by the end of February, the IRS advises you first to contact your employer.
If you meet those two criteria, you should call the IRS or visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) in your area.
Part 4: Enclose a copy of Form 4852 with your tax return
Fill out Form 4852 if you still need to receive the necessary tax form after contacting the IRS for assistance and need to file your taxes by the due date. If a taxpayer either doesn't receive a W-2 from their employer or believes that the W-2 they did receive is erroneous, they can file a Form 4852 instead.
5. Submit an Application for a Transcript of Wages and Earnings
A Wage and Income Transcript can be requested from the IRS if you used Form 4852 to submit your tax return and you want to double-check that the income you reported matches the income your employer reported to the IRS. This transcript displays information from informational returns (like Forms W-2 and 1099) submitted to the IRS by issuers like your company.
