How to Get Copies of Old W‐2 Forms
Call the payroll department of your current or former employer., Call your company’s payroll provider., Call your tax preparer.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Call the payroll department of your current or former employer.
This is the easiest way to get an old W-2 form.
Employers are required to save important tax information such as your current and prior-year W-2s.Employers are required to provide employees with a W-2 for the current tax season by January
31.
If you have not received your W-2 by this date, or if you have lost or misplaced it, you can contact your employer. -
Step 2: Call your company’s payroll provider.
If your employer contracts out payroll duties, ask your boss for the phone number of the company that handles your company’s payroll.
You can call this provider and request to have your W-2 mailed to you.
Be prepared to provide your Social Security number or employee number.
Make sure to specify the year of the W-2 form that you want to have sent to you.
Make sure the provider has your correct address on file.
While you are speaking to the payroll provider, you may also want to ask how long it will take for your W-2 to arrive. , Another way to get a copy of an old W-2 is to contact your tax preparer (if you have one).
Be prepared to provide your Social Security number.
Make sure to specify the year of the W-2 form that you want to have sent to you.
Make sure the tax preparer has your correct address on file.
While you are speaking to the tax preparer, you may also want to ask how long it will take for your W-2 to arrive. -
Step 3: Call your tax preparer.
Detailed Guide
This is the easiest way to get an old W-2 form.
Employers are required to save important tax information such as your current and prior-year W-2s.Employers are required to provide employees with a W-2 for the current tax season by January
31.
If you have not received your W-2 by this date, or if you have lost or misplaced it, you can contact your employer.
If your employer contracts out payroll duties, ask your boss for the phone number of the company that handles your company’s payroll.
You can call this provider and request to have your W-2 mailed to you.
Be prepared to provide your Social Security number or employee number.
Make sure to specify the year of the W-2 form that you want to have sent to you.
Make sure the provider has your correct address on file.
While you are speaking to the payroll provider, you may also want to ask how long it will take for your W-2 to arrive. , Another way to get a copy of an old W-2 is to contact your tax preparer (if you have one).
Be prepared to provide your Social Security number.
Make sure to specify the year of the W-2 form that you want to have sent to you.
Make sure the tax preparer has your correct address on file.
While you are speaking to the tax preparer, you may also want to ask how long it will take for your W-2 to arrive.
About the Author
Janet Foster
Creates helpful guides on organization to inspire and educate readers.
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