Do You Get a W2 If You Only Worked a Week?
Even for a brief period of employment, your right to a W-2 is determined by your employee status, not the duration of work. Learn about this tax obligation.
Working at a job for a short period, like a week or a single day, can lead to uncertainty about tax documents. A central question is whether an employer must issue a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, for such brief employment. Understanding the rules for this form is part of managing your tax obligations.
The Employer W-2 Requirement
An employer is required to issue a Form W-2 regardless of the length of employment. The obligation is triggered by the payment of wages, and the employer must report those earnings to you and the Social Security Administration (SSA). This holds true even if the amount earned is less than the often-cited $600 threshold, which applies to other types of information returns but not the W-2.
The determining factor is whether any taxes were withheld from your pay, including federal income tax, Social Security, or Medicare taxes. Social Security and Medicare taxes, collectively known as FICA taxes, are withheld from the very first dollar earned. Because these taxes are almost always withheld, a W-2 is necessary to document the wages paid and taxes collected, even for one day of work.
This requirement ensures that your earnings and tax contributions are accurately recorded with the SSA, which affects future benefits. Employers are mandated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to mail these forms to employees by January 31 of the year following the one in which the wages were earned.
Steps for a Missing W-2
If you have not received your W-2 from a short-term employer by mid-February, contact the employer’s payroll or human resources department. You should verify that they have your correct mailing address on file. An incorrect or outdated address is a frequent cause for a W-2 not arriving, especially if you moved after your brief employment ended.
Should you confirm the address is correct and the employer is unable or unwilling to provide the form, contact the IRS directly. You can call them for assistance, and they will typically send a letter to the employer on your behalf. When you call, be prepared to provide the employer’s name, address, and phone number, along with your own personal information and dates of employment.
If the W-2 is still unavailable by the tax filing deadline, the IRS provides Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. This form allows you to estimate your wages and withheld taxes using documents like your final pay stub. Filing Form 4852 enables you to submit your tax return on time, avoiding potential late-filing penalties.