Former job won't give me my W2… how do I get it?

Seeking Advice
1

Hey all, I haven’t filed my taxes yet, and the big issue is my old job from 2023 won’t send me my W2. I tried reaching my old manager, but he didn’t respond, and now he’s left the company. I was told to talk to HR, but they won’t respond to my emails either, and I don’t have a phone number for them. This company didn’t give me my W2 last year either.

So, my question is: What can I do to get my W2 if I can’t get it from my old job? Also, if I miss the October 16 deadline, do I just file next year? Thanks.

Edit: I have filed my taxes now.

2

You can access your Wage and Income transcripts for 2023 here:

Just a heads up:

  • These are “masked,” so they don’t show the full employer ID number. You might have it on an old paystub or a W-2 from a previous year.

  • IRS transcripts don’t include state wages or withholding info.

3

@Uma
If you don’t have the full EIN from your employer, just put all 0’s in the spot. The system might not like it at first, but when a person reviews it, they’ll understand. You could also make an appointment at a taxpayer assistance center to get an unmasked version printed out: IRS Local Office Locator | Internal Revenue Service

4

You can try contacting your state labor department. Not providing pay stubs can be illegal in many places.

5

Baylor said:
You can try contacting your state labor department. Not providing pay stubs can be illegal in many places.

The person posting didn’t say they never got paystubs, just that they don’t have them now. Maybe they were electronic, and they lost access, or they threw them out after cashing their checks.

6

https://www.irs.gov/filing/if-you-dont-get-a-w-2-or-your-w-2-is-wrong#:~:text=If%20you%20don’t%20get%20a%20W%2D2%20in%20time,it%20to%20your%20tax%20return.

7

@Tal
I don’t think I can fill this out because I don’t have any paystubs.

8

Dakota said:
@Tal
I don’t think I can fill this out because I don’t have any paystubs.

You should still contact the IRS. Don’t let your old employer get away with this.

9

Go to irs.gov, create an account (you’ll need last year’s tax return), and find your 2023 transcript. Do you still have your last pay stub?

10

Bay said:
Go to irs.gov, create an account (you’ll need last year’s tax return), and find your 2023 transcript. Do you still have your last pay stub?

Make sure you’re searching for ‘Earnings Transcripts,’ not just regular ‘Transcripts.’

11

@Zinnia
It’s actually called ‘Wage and Income’ transcript.

12

Bay said:
Go to irs.gov, create an account (you’ll need last year’s tax return), and find your 2023 transcript. Do you still have your last pay stub?

I don’t have any paystubs from this job. I went on the IRS site and checked my 2023 transcript, but it’s empty. All the boxes like adjusted gross income, taxable income, etc. are blank, unlike my 2022 transcript which has numbers.

13

@Dakota
You need to look for the ‘Wage and Income’ transcript.

14

Fox said:
@Dakota
You need to look for the ‘Wage and Income’ transcript.

Thanks, I’ll check that.

15

@Dakota
Sorry, I know general stuff but not details. Listen to the others here. It’s crazy how some employers don’t provide W2s, though. Hope it works out for you, keep at it!

16

If you tell the IRS that your old employer won’t give you a W2, they’ll contact the company and force them to provide it (or they’ll face legal consequences).

17

Another option: if your employer used a payroll service like ADP, Paychex, or Gusto, you can try contacting that service directly. They should be able to give you your W2.

18

Did you work for this company in 2022? If so, did you get a W2 for that year?

I’m asking because if they didn’t give you one last year either, maybe they classified you as an independent contractor, which would mean no W2 at all.

19

You can report your wages using Form 4852. I’ve had to do that too lol

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4852

20

If there’s an IRS office nearby, you can go in, and they’ll print the transcript for you. Bring two forms of ID, like your driver’s license and SS card.