How Can I Get My Previous Year’s W-2?

Understanding Your W-2 Form

A Wage and Tax Statement, commonly known as a Form W-2, is a document employers issue to report annual wages and the taxes withheld from an employee’s pay. This form is essential for filing federal and state income tax returns, providing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration with crucial income and tax information. Individuals often need previous years’ W-2 forms for various purposes, such as filing delinquent tax returns, applying for loans or mortgages, or verifying income for other financial applications.

Obtaining from Your Employer

The most direct approach to obtaining a previous year’s W-2 is by contacting your former or current employer. Before reaching out, gather specific information to help them locate your records, including your full legal name used during employment, the last four digits of your Social Security Number, and your dates of employment.

You can contact the employer’s payroll or human resources department through various channels, such as a phone call, email, or by checking if they offer an online employee portal. Many companies provide digital access to W-2 forms through secure online platforms, which can be the quickest method for retrieval. Employers are required to issue W-2 forms by January 31st of the year following the tax year.

If you have not received your W-2 by mid-February, contact your employer. Employers are obligated to provide a replacement W-2. They may charge a nominal fee for duplicate copies, typically up to $25, if the original was lost or destroyed.

Accessing Through Tax Software or Preparer

Individuals who used tax preparation software or a professional tax preparer for previous tax years often have an alternative method for retrieving W-2 information. Tax software platforms commonly store copies of past tax returns and associated documents, including W-2 data. By logging into your account with the specific software used, such as TurboTax or H&R Block, you can navigate to your historical tax filings and access the wage and tax details. It is important to remember the login credentials for these accounts.

If you engaged a professional tax preparer or accounting firm, they typically retain client records for several years. Contacting your former preparer can provide a copy of the W-2 information they used for your past tax filings, as they often maintain digital or physical archives of client documents.

Requesting from the IRS

If direct employer contact or tax software access is unsuccessful, you can request a Wage and Income Transcript directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This transcript provides data from information returns, including Forms W-2, that the IRS receives, serving as a record of your reported earnings and withheld taxes.

You can use the IRS’s “Get Transcript Online” tool, which offers immediate access to your transcript. To use this service, verify your identity by providing personal details such as your Social Security Number, date of birth, filing status from your last tax return, and a financial account number like a credit card or mortgage loan. The process often involves two-step authentication, sometimes requiring a photo of an identity document and a selfie through ID.me.

Alternatively, request a Wage and Income Transcript by mail using Form 4506-T, “Request for Transcript of Tax Return.” This form requires your name, Social Security Number, current address, and the tax year(s) needed. Mail the completed form to the IRS address for your state, as indicated in the form’s instructions. The IRS does not charge a fee for transcripts requested via Form 4506-T.

For phone requests, the IRS offers an automated transcript service at 800-908-9946. Follow the prompts and provide your Social Security Number and the street address associated with your tax return. Online access is typically instant. Transcripts requested by mail generally arrive within 5 to 10 calendar days, while requests via Form 4506-T can take up to 75 days for processing and delivery.