How do i get last years w2

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

A W-2 form is an important document to have when filing your annual taxes. At the beginning of each year, companies send all their employees W-2s that include information about the previous year's earnings and taxes. If you have changed jobs in the past year, you must still get a W-2 from your former employer to file your taxes properly. In this article, we describe how to get your W-2 from a previous employer and tips if you have not received it yet.

Related: How To Get A Pay Stub

Why do you need to get a W-2 from your previous employer?

If you changed jobs in the past year, you must have a W-2, also called a Wage and Tax Statement, from your previous employer to file your taxes. You use this form to find out how much taxes you owe or if you can expect a tax refund. This form includes information such as:

• How much money you earned at that company in the past year

• Amount of federal, state, Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld from your earnings

• Your annual contributions to your retirement fund

• Employer contribution to your health care

• Amount of dependent care benefits you received

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires companies to send W-2 forms to all current and former employees who earned at least $600 during the past year.

Related: Understanding the W-2 Form

How to get a W-2 from your former employer

The IRS requires your former employer to mail you a copy of your W-2 before the end of January. If by the first few weeks of the year, your W-2 has not arrived yet, or you have misplaced the form, you might need to take action to avoid tax filing penalties. Here are simple steps you can follow to make sure you receive your W-2 on time:

1. Check the date

Know important tax dates, and watch the calendar to determine when you should intervene. Your former employer has until Jan. 31 to mail your W-2. Therefore, it might not arrive until the first week of February. According to the IRS, you should receive your W-2 by Feb. 14 at the latest.

2. Change your address if you moved

If your address has changed since you stopped working for your former employer, make sure you filled out a change-of-address form at your local United States Post Office. After submitting this form, you must typically wait seven to 10 days before the USPS processes your request and mail arrives at your new address. If you forgot to fill this form out when moving, mail sent to your previous address will not get forwarded to your new home, and the Postal Service might have returned your W-2 to your former employer.

3. Search your email

You might have opted to receive paperless tax statements, or your former employer prefers to send tax documents digitally. Search your inbox and spam folder for an email indicating your tax documents are ready. This notice typically includes a link to a secure online platform where you can access and download important files such as your W-2.

4. Contact your former employer

If by the end of January you have not received your W-2, first contact your previous employer. If the company you worked for has a human resources (HR) department, call or email the HR representative to ask about the status of your W-2 and to confirm they have your correct mailing address. They might have mailed the form, but it got lost in the mail or went to the wrong address. If the company does not have an HR department, call your former manager. Offer to pick up your W-2 in person to save time.

5. Contact the payroll administrator

If the company you worked for uses a third-party provider to process payroll, call or email the payroll administrator. Again, confirm the address they have on file for you, and ask them to send a replacement copy if they mailed the form, but it has not arrived.

6. Contact the IRS

If you cannot contact your former employer, they do not respond to your request or you have not received your W-2 by Feb. 14, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. Provide the representative with the company's Employer Identification Number (EIN), which you can find on your old pay stubs or the previous year's W-2. You might also need to provide information such as your contact information and Social Security number, the employer's contact information, estimated earnings and the dates you worked for that company. The IRS then sends your former employer a reminder to mail your W-2.

If you prefer to handle tax communications in person, you can schedule an appointment at your local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. Bring the necessary information, including the company's EIN, with you to speed up the process.

Related: What's Included in a Pay Stub and Other Frequently Asked Questions

Tips if you can't get your W-2 from your previous employer

If you have completed the steps above and believe you will not get your W-2 by the April 15 deadline, you still need to file your taxes. You have a few options to avoid IRS fines:

• Request an extension: Submit Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, to ask the IRS to give you more time to file your taxes. If accepted, you have six more months to file your income tax returns but must still pay your taxes on time. Include with the form your best estimate of how much tax you owe and payment for that amount.

• File without a W-2: If you do not expect to receive a W-2 from your previous employer — if, for instance, they are no longer in business — you can submit Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, with your tax return in place of a W-2. Use the information on your last pay stub from that company to estimate your earnings and withholdings and complete the 4852. If you receive your W-2 after submitting a 4852, confirm your estimates, and file Form 1040x to correct any inaccuracies.

You can find and download these forms on the IRS website and must submit them by the April tax filing deadline. Getting an extension or filing a substitute form can slow processing of your return and delay your refund, but prevents the IRS from penalizing you for overdue or unfiled taxes.