When Does the Military Get Their W-2?
This guide clarifies the official DFAS process for service members to get their annual W-2, covering procedures for active, retired, and separated personnel.
The annual process of filing income taxes begins with the Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. For members of the armed forces, this form summarizes all taxable wages and withholdings for the year. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is the organization responsible for issuing W-2s to all service members. Understanding when and how to access this form is the first step in the process.
W-2 Availability and Deadlines
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) mandates that all employers, including DFAS, must send W-2 forms to their employees no later than January 31st each year. This date is the deadline for the forms to be postmarked if sent by mail, not the date they must be in your hands.
DFAS makes electronic W-2s available online well before the mailing deadline. Service members can expect to find their tax statements available for download through the myPay system at some point in January. For example, W-2s for reservists have become available as early as January 8th, with those for active-duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force appearing around January 17th.
Accessing Your W-2 Through myPay
For most active-duty personnel, the myPay online portal is the fastest method for retrieving a W-2. The system allows you to download and print an official, IRS-approved copy of your tax statement. Accessing your document begins with logging into your established myPay account using your Login ID and password.
Once logged in, you will navigate to the “Taxes” section of the main menu. You can select the W-2 link for the relevant tax year. The system provides the option to view, print, or save a PDF copy of your form. To ensure the earliest possible access, members are encouraged to select the electronic-only delivery option within their myPay account settings, which prevents a physical copy from being mailed.
Options for Separated or Retired Members
Former service members can still access their final military W-2s. Veterans who established a myPay account while serving can continue to use that account with limited access to retrieve tax documents from their service period. This allows them to log in and download the necessary forms just as an active member would.
If a separated member did not set up a myPay account or can no longer access it, they must request a mailed copy from DFAS. This can be done through the AskDFAS online portal. When requesting a reissue, you will need to provide sufficient personal information to verify your identity.
Handling a Missing or Incorrect W-2
If you do not receive your W-2 in the mail by mid-February, or if you cannot access it online, you can request a replacement from DFAS. The request can be submitted through the AskDFAS service on the DFAS website. It is important to wait until after the primary distribution period has passed before making a request for a form you believe is simply delayed.
Should you receive your W-2 and find that information is incorrect, you must request a corrected form. The proper document for this is a Form W-2c, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement. To initiate this process, you will need to contact DFAS directly, providing details about the specific errors on your original W-2. DFAS will then investigate the discrepancy and, if validated, issue a W-2c.