How do I get my W-2 form?

MUW Team

// July 11, 2023

Financial education, Tax forms

Introduction

If you’re like me, when you think about tax season, you picture yourself sitting at the kitchen table with your spouse and kids. You may make popcorn or hot chocolate for everyone as you work on your taxes together. But if tax season isn’t going as planned and feels more like a chaotic free-for-all than a family event, don’t worry: You can still get organized! And one of the most essential pieces of organizing is accessing all your W-2 forms before April 15. So let’s look at how you can get copies of your W-2 form and what it means for your taxes this year.

You can request a copy of your W-2 form from the Social Security Administration (SSA) by phone or online.

The SSA will send you a copy of your W-2 form within 24 hours of receiving your request.

You must provide some basic information when requesting a W-2 form by phone or online:

Your name, address, and Social Security number;
The year for which you need the W-2 form; and
Whether you want one copy or multiple copies (up to three).

If you need to request a W-2 form by phone, call the SSA at 1-800-772-6270. You can also request a copy of your W-2 form online by visiting the SSA’s website and logging in with your Social Security number and password.

If you need to request a W-2 form by mail, send your request in writing via certified mail with the return receipt requested. Include your full name and Social Security number on the letter, and make sure to include your current address. Send this letter to:

You can get a paper W-2 form by contacting your employer directly.

You can get a paper W-2 form by contacting your employer directly. If you have yet to receive your W-2 form, contact the human resources department of your company and ask them to mail you a copy. They can request one from the IRS if they don’t have one. If you need a different option, go to irs.gov/W2 and complete the form.

You can also call 800-829-1040 to request a paper W-2.

Ensure your social security number is handy so the IRS can verify it. If you need your social security number, call them and ask for it.

If you can still not obtain a W-2 form, you may have been an independent contractor. If so, your employer doesn’t have to issue a W-2.

If you were an independent contractor, your employer will issue you a 1099 form instead.

If you still need to receive your W-2 form, your employer still has time to mail it.

The deadline for employers to send out W-2 documents is January 31. If an employer fails to meet this deadline and does not provide a reasonable excuse for failing to file on time, they may be penalized from $50 per return up to $500 per return (or criminal fines).

Employers are not required by law or regulation (IRS Publication 15)to send out W-2s electronically; however, many do so as a convenience for their employees.

Contact your employer if you still need to receive your W-2 form by February 15. If you still await receiving it within a reasonable time (usually ten days), contact the IRS to report missing documents at 1-800-829-1040 or go online at www.irs.gov/W2.

You can also view an electronic version of your W-2 form using the IRS’ “Get Transcript” service.

You can also view an electronic version of your W-2 form using the IRS’ “Get Transcript” service. To do so, you must have:

Your Social Security number and date of birth (or the last four digits of your SSN and date).
The employer identification number (EIN) for each business that issued you a W-2 form. If you need help finding this number, contact the company that gave you the W-2 form(s).
A PIN to access your account if one has been assigned to it by the IRS Get Transcript Service provider(s) associated with this transcript request.

. If you have questions about how to get an electronic copy of your W-2 form, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

If you need a hard copy of your W-2 form, ask for it early so that you have time to plan for tax season.

You can get a paper copy from the Social Security Administration (SSA) by phone or online. If you need help requesting it through their website, call 800-772-1213 and ask them to send it to you via mail. You can also contact your employer directly if they still need to provide one–they may be able to provide one more quickly than SSA will be able to send it out in the mail.

If you need a copy of your W-2, request it as soon as possible. You can either call or visit the SSA office in person to get a paper copy sent to you. If you cannot request this form by phone or online, contact your employer directly and ask them for a copy of your W-2 information.

If you need a hard copy of your W-2 form, ask for it early so that you have time to plan for tax season. You can get a paper copy from the Social Security Administration (SSA) by phone or online. If you need help requesting it through their website, call 800-772-1213 and ask them to send it to you via mail.

Conclusion

The W-2 form is one of the most essential documents you’ll receive from your employer, and you must have it on time. If you need help obtaining your W-2 form or have questions about how to use it, contact us today.