The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) relies on taxpayers to accurately report their income and pay their taxes. One of the most important documents used by the IRS to verify income is the W-2 form. This form is issued by employers to employees and reports the employee’s wages, salaries, tips, and other compensation for the year.
What Happens if You Don’t Receive a W-2?
If you don’t receive a W-2 from your employer by the end of January, you should contact your employer and request a copy. If you still don’t have your W-2 by the end of February, you should call the IRS at 800-829-1040.
The IRS will contact your employer and request the missing W-2. The IRS will also send you a copy of Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. You can use this form to file your tax return without your W-2.
What if Your W-2 is Incorrect?
If you receive a W-2 that is incorrect, you should contact your employer and request a corrected W-2. If your employer doesn’t correct the W-2 by the end of February, you should either:
- Call the IRS at 800-829-1040
- Make an appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center
The IRS will send your employer a letter asking them to give you a corrected W-2 within 10 days. The IRS will also send you instructions for Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2. You can use this form to estimate your earnings.
Can the IRS Detect a Missing W-2?
Yes, the IRS can detect a missing W-2. The IRS matches the information on your tax return with the information reported by your employer on Form W-2. If the IRS does not receive a W-2 for you from your employer, the IRS will send you a notice.
What Happens if You File Your Taxes Without a W-2?
If you don’t have your W-2 by the time you file your taxes, you can use Form 4852 to estimate your income and taxes. You should attach Form 4852 to your tax return.
Penalties for Not Reporting Income
If you fail to report all of your income, you may be subject to penalties. The IRS may also assess interest on the unpaid taxes.
It is important to file your taxes accurately and on time. If you don’t receive a W-2 from your employer, or if your W-2 is incorrect, you should contact the IRS. The IRS can help you get the information you need to file your taxes accurately.
Missing W-2
FAQ
Will the IRS catch a missed W-2?
What happens if I forgot a W-2 on my tax return?
What happens if I don’t add a W-2 to my taxes?
What happens if W-2 is lost?
What if I don’t have a W2?
Contact your employer to confirm when the form is coming. If you contacted your employer and still don’t have your W-2, call us at 800-829-1040. We’ll contact your employer and request the missing W-2. We’ll also send you a copy of Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. You can use this to file your tax return without your W-2.
Is it possible to get a missing W-2?
It may be. Sometimes the IRS will catch your missing W-2 and send you a letter letting you know about the missing information and they will correct it for you or if you have other issues on your return they may reject it. So, in the meantime, you will need to wait to see if it is processed or not.
Can I add a missing W2 to my tax return?
There is a chance your return could be rejected by the IRS, in which case you can add the missing W-2 before re-submitting your return. If your return accepted, the income and tax withheld on your return will not agree with what has been reported to them by your employers.
What if I can’t get a W2 or 1099?
Taxpayers who haven’t received a W-2 or Form 1099 should contact the employer, payer or issuing agency and request the missing documents. This also applies for those who received an incorrect W-2 or Form 1099. If they can’t get the forms, they must still file their tax return on time.