what can i do if i did not receive my tax information from prior employment?

Question

I do not have a copy of my last pay stub and my old company did not mail me my tax information.

Answer 1

If you still do not receive your W-2 by February 14th, contact the IRS for assistance at 800-829-1040. When you call, have the following information:

Employer's name, address, city, and state, including zip code.


Your name, address, city and state, including zip code, and Social Security number
If you misplaced your W-2, contact your employer. Your employer can replace the lost form with a “reissued statement.” Be aware that your employer is allowed to charge you a fee for providing you with a new W-2.

You still must file your tax return on time even if you do not receive your Form W-2. If you do not receive the missing information in time to file, you may file you may use Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. Attach Form 4852 to the return, estimating income and withholding taxes as accurately as possible. There may be a delay in any refund due while the information is verified.

If you receive a Form W-2 or W-2C (corrected form) after you have filed your return using Form 4852, and the information differs from what you reported on your return, you must amend your return by filing a Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

Answer 2

First step is to contact the employer and request your W2. It may have been lost in the mail or they may not have your current mailing address.

If the employer fails to provide your W2, contact the IRS and file a missing W2 report. The IRS will investigate the issue and either help you secure the W2 from the employer or assist you in providing alternate documentation of your income and tax withholdings. If you use the alternate documentation the processing of your return will be delayed while the IRS attempts to verify the information that you provided.