Best methods to obtain W2 forms from unresponsive or hard-to-reach former employers?

Thanks for this info! I do have my final pay stubs, thankfully. Quick question though - if I use Form 4852, will that cause any issues down the road if one of these companies eventually sends me a W2 with slightly different numbers? Also, how long does this process with the IRS typically take?

If you eventually receive a W2 after filing with Form 4852 and the information differs significantly, you should file an amended return (Form 1040-X). For minor differences, the IRS typically won't be concerned. Most people find small variances are within acceptable margins. The process after contacting the IRS varies. Typically, they'll send the employer a notice within 10 business days. The employer then has 10 more days to respond. Once you receive Form 4852, you can proceed with filing your return. So altogether, expect about 3-4 weeks. Since you have your pay stubs, you're in a better position than most people facing this issue!

How does taxr.ai handle situations where you don't have complete pay stubs? I only have 2 out of 5 stubs from one employer and nothing from another. Would it still work for me?

I'm a bit skeptical about using a tax service for this. Does it just give generic advice you could find on the IRS website, or does it actually do something special to help track down unresponsive employers?

For incomplete pay stubs, taxr.ai has a feature that helps you extrapolate missing information based on the stubs you do have. It will analyze the tax withholding patterns from your existing stubs and help calculate reasonable estimates for the missing periods. It's much more accurate than guessing. The service goes beyond generic IRS advice. While it doesn't track down employers for you, it provides personalized guidance for your specific situation based on the documents you upload. It analyzes your specific documentation and provides the exact steps for your situation, including which forms to file and how to complete them correctly based on your available records.

How exactly does this work? I don't understand how a third party service could get you through the IRS phone system faster than doing it yourself.

Yeah right. Sounds like a scam to me. The IRS phone system is designed to be equally painful for everyone. No way some service can magically get you through the line faster than anyone else.

It works by using their system to navigate the IRS phone tree and wait on hold for you. When they reach a live agent, you get an immediate callback to connect with that agent. You don't have to sit listening to hold music for hours. It's definitely not a scam - I was skeptical too until I tried it. They don't claim to have "special access" to the IRS or anything like that. They just have a system that waits in the queue for you. The IRS doesn't prioritize their calls over others, but it saves you from having to personally wait on hold. When I got my callback, I was connected to a regular IRS agent who helped with my W2 issue just like if I'd waited on hold myself.

That's a good point! The Michigan company used some kind of online portal, but I think my login expired when I left. Is there a way to regain access to those systems after you're no longer employed there?

You can often regain access even after leaving. Try the "forgot password" option on the login page for the payroll system they used. Many systems maintain your tax documents for several years. If that doesn't work, try contacting the payroll provider directly (not your employer). Companies like ADP have specific processes for former employees to retrieve tax documents. You'll need to verify your identity with your SSN and other personal info, but they can often provide access to your W2 without involving your former employer at all.

Yes, but there's a catch - the wage and income transcripts aren't typically available for the current tax year until late May or June. So it won't help OP file on time for this tax season. It's more useful for prior years' missing W2s.