How to Request Copies of Prior W-2 Forms
W-2 forms are the forms you receive from your employer that state how much money you made over the previous year and how much was withheld for taxes. Each year you attach a copy with your federal, state and local taxes. One copy is for your records, and you may need it in case of an audit. If you do need your W-2 forms from previous years and do not have your copy, you will need to request them from the IRS. Your employer may have copies, but is under no obligation to provide them to you.
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Instructions
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Fill in lines 1-5 of Form 4506. Line 1 is your name and Social Security number, while line 2 is that of your spouse if you filed jointly. Line 3 is your current address. Line 4 is your address when you last filed a tax return if it is different from your current address; this is not the address for the years you want the W-2 forms for, only the last year you filed. Fill out line 5 only if you want the copy of your tax return and W-2 forms sent to a third party.
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Put the type of return you are requesting in line 6. This return will include all documents you attached, including your W-2 form. For most people, this will be Form 1040, 1040A or 1040-EZ, depending on what was filed.
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Enter the ending date for the year you need your W-2s from in line 7. If you need W-2 forms for more than eight years, you will need to file a second copy of Form 4506.
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Calculate the total fee in line 8 by entering the number of items you put in line 7 in line 8b. Multiply that by the fee listed on the form and enter the result in line 8C. This is the total fee for your request.
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Attach a check or money order for the total fee to the form.
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Sign and date the bottom of the form. Have your spouse sign and date it as well if you filed jointly.
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Mail the form to the RAIVS Team. Find the address you will mail it to on page 2 of the form. First locate the chart corresponding to the type of return you are requesting. This is either the 1040 series, meaning Form 1040, 1040A or 1040-EZ, or the chart for any other return type. Find your state in one of the rows then look in the second column for the address to send your form to.
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Tips & Warnings
Use Form 4506-T if you only need the information from previous years and not a copy of your W-2 to save the fee.
If you paid a preparer to file your taxes they should be able to get you a copy.
