How to Obtain a Copy of My W2 Form From 1990

Always keep your W2s as long as possible.

A W2 is an income statement given to an employee by an employer at the end of each year. It's suggested that you keep a W2 for five years; however, if you get audited, the IRS can go back as far as 20 years if it sees fit. Keep the W2 on file as long as possible to avoid problems. Obtaining records older than 10 years can be challenging.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access
• telephone service

Instructions

1. 

   Check in the filing cabinet first.

   Check your filing cabinet or wherever you keep tax information to see whether you still have a copy of your W2 from 1990. Most people don't keep these documents longer than 10 years, which is the length of time the IRS suggests. Having a copy may help avoid any fees that might result from having to obtain a copy by other means.

2. Contact your employer from 1990. Remembering the name of your employer or what you were doing at the time, such as going to school, will make things easier. Call the employer and explain that you need a copy of your W2 from 1990. The employer may no longer have it, because businesses are only required to keep these records for 10 years. You may be referred to the headquarters office, but it may not have the needed information either.

3. Call the IRS at 1-800-772-1213. The IRS does not keep W2 information after 10 years; however, it will provide wage information for free over the phone. If you need a physical copy of your W2, go to the IRS website at www.irs.gov and fill out the Request for Tax Information document to receive a microprint copy of your W2. That request requires a payment of $57 per tax year of information.

4. Contact the Social Security Administration at www.socialsecurity.gov to obtain a free copy of your W2 information. The SSA provides the W2 copy only to the person requiring the tax information and will provide it if the information is used to resolve a social security matter. The SSA will not provide the W2 copy for other matters.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not keep files past 10 years, your accountant, if you have one, may keep these files.

• Because businesses are not required to keep W2 information past 10 years, this information may not be accessible.

• The IRS does not keep files longer than 10 years, but it does have them on microfile. Contact the IRS if the your employer at the time does not have your W2.

References

• Prior Year(s) Form W-2 (How to Get a Copy)