How to Obtain a W-2 From a Prior Year

Tax time--where is the W-2?

Filing taxes ranks with visiting a dentist in terms of discomfort, but taxes have to be filed on time. For a salaried employee, a W-2 is a necessary document for tax preparation. Issued for the year immediately preceding the year in which you are filing taxes, the IRS requires that employees provide the W-2 in a timely fashion. However, there may come a time that you require the W-2 for years prior to the current year, or a new employer may ask for it.

Instructions

1. Contact the payroll department. However, that may not work if you require a W-2 from many years prior and the payroll records do not go that far back. You could also face a situation where the employer has gone out of business and there is no contact point.

2. File Form 4506--Request for Copy of Tax Return--if you need an actual copy of the W-2. Fill in and mail it to the address listed on the form along with the required fee. If you request forms for more than one year and you had differing addresses, then send the 4506 form to the address based on the most recent return. Make the check or money order payable to the United States Treasury and write your Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number on the payment instrument.

3. File Form 4506-T (for Transcript) if you will be satisfied with W-2 information and you do not need an exact copy. The IRS maintains this information for the prior 10 years and provides it free of charge. The transcript contains most of the information from the original return, and may be acceptable to lending agencies or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Know that state and local tax information is not provided with a transcript. If you need that information, you must visit your state's Department of Revenue.

4. File Form 4506T-EZ--Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return Transcript. This is a newly created form for those trying to obtain, modify or refinance a home mortgage.

5. Contact the Social Security Department, 800-772-1213, if you are trying to resolve a Social Security Adminstration-related matter. They will provide a free microprint copy of the form W-2. You may also contact them if you need the W-2 for retirement purposes.

6. Contact your tax preparer if you had your taxes completed professionally. Their office will have a copy of the tax form and W-2. If you filed your taxes using tax software you can print out the information on your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• Links for downloading forms:

• Form 4506T-EZ, Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return Transcript

• Form 4506-T (PDF), Request for Transcript of Tax Return

• Form 4506 (PDF), Request for Copy of Tax Return

• Phone number to order forms: 800-829-3676

References

• IRS: Topic 159 - Prior Year(s) Form W-2 (How to Get a Copy)
• IRS: Form 4852. Substitute for form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement
• IRS: Topic 156 - Copy of Your Tax Return -- How to Get One
• IRS Form 4506-T.Request for Transcript of Tax Return