How to Get a Copy of Your W-2 From 2022

A W-2 form reports an employee’s annual wages and taxes withheld by their employer, a foundational document for filing income tax returns. Taxpayers rely on this form to accurately report earnings and tax payments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Not receiving or misplacing this important document for a prior tax year, such as 2022, is a common experience for many individuals.

Contacting Your Former Employer

The most direct and often quickest method to obtain a copy of your 2022 W-2 form is to contact your former employer. Before contacting them, gather personal details to streamline the retrieval process: your full legal name as it appeared on employment records, Social Security Number, last known address from 2022, and exact dates of employment. This information helps the employer’s payroll or human resources department locate your tax records.

Contact the Human Resources or Payroll department. Contact methods include:
Calling their main phone number
Sending an email to a dedicated HR or payroll address
Checking if they offer an online portal for past employees

Clearly request a duplicate W-2 form for the 2022 tax year. Employers typically fulfill these requests within a few business days to a couple of weeks, depending on their internal processes. If you don’t receive a response, follow up politely. If contact remains unresponsive, consider escalating your request within the company structure to ensure your inquiry is addressed.

Obtaining Your W-2 from the IRS

If efforts to secure a W-2 directly from a former employer are unsuccessful, the IRS offers retrieval options. To request this information from the IRS, you will need your Social Security Number, full name, current mailing address, and the employer’s exact name, address, and Employer Identification Number (EIN) for the 2022 tax year. The IRS uses these details to verify your identity and accurately locate the tax information.

One method is to request a wage and income transcript from the IRS, which includes W-2 data. You can obtain this transcript by completing IRS Form 4506-T, titled “Request for Transcript of Tax Return.” This form is available for download on the official IRS website and requires the tax year for which you need the transcript.

The IRS provides several ways to request this transcript:
Use the “Get Transcript Online” tool on the IRS website for immediate access after identity verification.
Request a transcript by phone.
Mail the completed Form 4506-T to the IRS address specified in the form’s instructions.

Processing times for mailed requests can range from several weeks to a few months, so plan ahead.

Alternative Methods for Retrieval

Beyond direct employer contact or IRS requests, other options exist for retrieving a 2022 W-2 form. Many employers use third-party payroll service providers, such as ADP or Paychex, to manage their payroll and tax documentation. These providers often maintain secure online portals where former employees can access and download past W-2 forms and pay stubs. Inquire with your former employer about their payroll provider or check common payroll service websites if you recall which one was used.

Individuals who used tax preparation software or a professional tax preparer for their 2022 tax filing may also have a copy. Tax software platforms commonly import W-2 information, and many tax preparers retain copies of client documents. Check your account with the software provider or contact your tax professional for swift retrieval.