How Soon Can Employees Get a W-2?
As the Christmas bills begin rolling in, taxpayers who are expecting refunds are anxious to receive their Form W-2 from their employer. Your W-2 shows your earnings and withholding for the tax year. You get a copy, your employer keeps a copy and the Internal Revenue Service receives a copy. The information in your tax return must match the information sent to the IRS to avoid processing delays.
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Earliest Date
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The earliest date that you can receive your W-2 is January 1. Typically, the only way that you can receive your form this early is if it is from a former employer, or there are only a couple of employees where you work. If you do not receive your W-2 early, spend your time gathering the other information, such as receipts and bank statements, that you need to complete your taxes.
Latest Date
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You should receive your Form W-2 by January 31, according to the IRS. If you do not, you should contact your employer before contacting the IRS. Ask your employer if he sent the form. If he says that he has, ask him when he sent it, so you can estimate its arrival. If he has not sent it yet, find out when he will mail it and estimate its delivery.
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If You Do Not Receive a W-2
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If you do not receive your Form W-2 by February 14, contact the IRS. Have your name, address, contact number and Social Security number ready to provide to the IRS representative. The IRS will need your employer's identifying information to send a request for your missing form. You will receive a Form 4852 from the IRS after talking to them; you can use this form if you do not receive your W-2. This form is a substitute for a W-2 or 1099. You can enter the information from your last paystub of the tax year on Form 4852.
Receiving a W-2 After You File
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If you file your taxes using a substitute form and receive your W-2 from your employer, do not panic. Compare your W-2 with the numbers you entered on your Form 4852. If the income and withholding match, you do not have to do anything else. If the information is different, you must file an amended return using a Form 1040X. There is an area on the form to explain why you are amending your return.
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