Can You Add a W2 From Last Year?

It is possible to include a W2 from a previous year by amending a filed tax return. This process corrects errors, omissions, or overlooked information on an original tax submission. Amending a return ensures that your tax record accurately reflects all income, deductions, and credits for a given tax year. This adjustment corrects your tax liability or secures a missed refund.

Understanding the Need to Amend

Taxpayers often need to amend a return when they discover overlooked income, such as a missing W2, or when they identify missed deductions or incorrect credits. Filing an amended return is essential for tax compliance and ensuring your tax liability is correctly stated.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) generally allows taxpayers to claim a refund by filing an amended return within three years from the date the original return was filed or two years from the date the tax was paid, whichever date is later. If an original return was filed early, the three-year period typically begins from the April tax deadline.

The IRS also has a statute of limitations for assessing additional tax, which is usually three years from the later of the tax return’s due date or the date it was filed. However, this period can be extended in certain situations, such as when there is a significant omission of income from the original return, or if a fraudulent return was filed. Understanding these timeframes ensures necessary corrections are made within the permissible period.

Information and Documents for Amendment

Before beginning the amendment process, gather all relevant information and documents. The missing W2 form from the previous year is crucial, detailing your wages and taxes withheld by an employer. You also need a copy of the original tax return (such as Form 1040) filed for that tax year. This original return provides the baseline figures that will be adjusted.

Any other supporting documents affected by the newly included W2 income, such as those for deductions or credits, should also be on hand. If you cannot locate a missing W2, contact your former employer’s human resources or payroll department for a duplicate. Alternatively, you can obtain a wage and income transcript directly from the IRS, which provides federal tax information reported by employers. This transcript can be requested online, by phone, or by mail using Form 4506-T.

Completing Form 1040-X

To add a W2 from a previous year and correct your tax information, you will use Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. The form features three distinct columns that guide the amendment process.

Column A is where you enter the amounts as they were originally reported on your initial tax return. Column B is used to record the net changes, showing the increase or decrease for each line item that is being adjusted. Finally, Column C displays the corrected amounts after incorporating the changes from Column B.

Accurately transferring information from your original return and calculating the adjustments based on the newly added W2 income is essential. The additional income from the W2 may affect your adjusted gross income (AGI), which in turn can alter your overall tax liability, as well as eligibility for certain deductions or credits.

Part II of Form 1040-X requires a detailed explanation for each change, such as including a previously omitted W2. You must attach the missing W2 and any other relevant supporting documents to Form 1040-X before submission.

Filing Your Amended Return

After completing Form 1040-X and attaching all necessary supporting documents, file the amended return. For most prior tax years, Form 1040-X must be mailed to the IRS. The mailing address varies by state; consult official IRS instructions for Form 1040-X to determine the correct address. If you are responding to an IRS notice, the address provided in that notice should be used.

While some tax software allows electronic filing for current and two prior tax years, earlier amended returns generally must be mailed. After submission, amended returns typically take longer to process than original returns. The IRS advises allowing up to 20 weeks for processing.

Check the status of your amended return using the IRS “Where’s My Amended Return?” online tool or by calling the IRS. This tool usually provides status updates approximately three weeks after submission. If an additional tax payment is due, the IRS website provides various payment options.