Feature Articles: Taxes
What to do if you haven't received a Form W-2
Reviewed and used with special permission from the IRS by: Brenda Procter, M.S., State Specialist & Instructor, Personal Financial Planning, University of Missouri Extension; Updated by Graham McCaulley, MA, Graduate Assistant, MU Personal Financial Planning Extension
You should receive a Form W-2 “Wage and Tax Statement” from each
employer you worked for to use in preparing your federal tax return.
According to the IRS, employers must furnish this record of 2011
earnings and withheld taxes no later than January 31, 2012 (if mailed,
allow a few days for delivery).
If you do not receive your Form W-2, contact your employer to
find out if and when the W-2 was mailed. If it was mailed, it may
have been returned to your employer because of an incorrect or incomplete
address, so be sure to verify your address. After contacting your
employer, allow a reasonable amount of time for your employer to
re-mail or to issue the W-2.
If you still do not receive your W-2 by February 14th, contact
the IRS for assistance toll free at 1-800-829-1040. When you call,
have the following information handy:
- The employer’s name and complete address, including zip code, the employer’s identification number (if known), and telephone number;
- Your name, address, including zip code, Social Security number, and telephone number; and
- An estimate of the wages you earned, the federal income tax withheld, and the dates you began and ended employment.
If you misplaced your W-2, contact your employer and be prepared
with the information listed above. Your employer can replace the
lost form with a “reissued statement.” Be aware that your employer
is allowed to charge you a fee for providing you with a new W-2.
You still must file your tax return on time, even if you do not
receive your Form W-2. If you cannot get a W-2 by your tax-filing
deadline, you may use Form 4852, “Substitute for Form W-2, Wage
and Tax Statement,” but it will delay any refund due while the information
is verified.
If you receive a corrected W-2 after your return is filed and
the information it contains does not match the income or withheld
tax you reported on your return, you must file an amended return
on Form 1040X.
Forms 4852 and 1040X and their instructions are available on
the IRS web site, http://www.irs.gov/,
in the “Forms & Pubs” section, or by calling toll free to 1-800-TAX-FORM
(1-800-829-3676).
Source: IRS Tax Tip 2007-22, Missing Your Form W-2?
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Last update: Tuesday, February 07, 2012
