Can I mail in my tax return with W-2s printed from the IRS website for prior years?
I'm currently working on filing my back taxes from 2022 through 2024 and I'm a bit stuck. I don't have the original physical copies of my W-2 forms anymore, but I was able to access them through the IRS.gov website. Since these are prior year returns, I know I have to mail them in rather than e-file, and the instructions say I need to include my W-2 forms with the paper returns. My question is - can I just print out the W-2s that I accessed through the IRS website and include those with my mailed returns? Or do I need to somehow get original copies from my employers? I'm trying to get all these old returns done before the 2025 filing season really kicks into gear, and tracking down originals might take forever. What's the proper way to handle this situation?
19 comments
Join the conversation
Carmen Ruiz
You can absolutely print the W-2s from the IRS website and include them with your paper returns. The IRS accepts printed copies of W-2s from their own system as valid documentation. Just make sure you print all pages of each W-2 clearly. For prior year returns (2022-2024), you'll need to use the tax forms specific to those years - don't use 2025 forms for previous years. You can download these from the IRS website in the "Prior Year Forms" section. Also, mail each tax year separately in different envelopes to the appropriate IRS processing center. The mailing address varies based on your location and whether you're enclosing a payment. Check the instructions for Form 1040 for the correct address.
0 coins
Andre Lefebvre
•Do you know if there's any special cover letter or form that should be included to explain why they're filing late? I always worry about getting hit with huge penalties for back taxes.
0 coins
Carmen Ruiz
•You don't need a special cover letter explaining the late filing. The IRS will automatically assess any applicable penalties and interest when they process your returns. If you have a legitimate reason for filing late (like serious illness, natural disaster, etc.), you can request penalty abatement later using Form 843, but that's a separate process after you receive a penalty notice. The most important thing is to get your returns filed correctly as soon as possible to stop additional penalties from accruing.
0 coins
Zoe Alexopoulos
I was in almost exactly your position last year with missing W-2s for 2019-2021. I wasted weeks trying to contact former employers with no luck. Then I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me sort through all my tax documents from the IRS portal. They have this tool that organizes everything from your IRS transcript into the right tax forms. Saved me so much confusion about which numbers went where!
0 coins
Jamal Anderson
•I'm curious - does this actually work with the wage and income transcripts from the IRS? I have access to those but wasn't sure if they contain all the information needed for filing.
0 coins
Mei Wong
•Did you have any issues with state taxes? The IRS transcripts only show federal info, right? Not sure how this would help with state filing requirements.
0 coins
Zoe Alexopoulos
•Yes, it absolutely works with the wage and income transcripts from the IRS! The service basically takes those transcripts and organizes all the information into the right spots on your tax forms. It shows you exactly which numbers go where, which was super helpful for me. For state taxes, you're right that the IRS transcripts only show federal info. What I did was use the completed federal returns (based on the transcript data) to then fill out my state returns. Most state returns start with your federal AGI anyway, so once you have your federal return done correctly, the state part becomes much easier.
0 coins
Jamal Anderson
Just wanted to update after using taxr.ai from the recommendation above. It was exactly what I needed! I uploaded my IRS wage and income transcripts and it organized everything perfectly. I was able to print my W-2s directly from there with all the information clearly laid out. The process was way simpler than I expected and I've already mailed in my 2022 and 2023 returns. Working on 2024 now. Definitely recommend for anyone dealing with back taxes and missing documents!
0 coins
QuantumQuasar
If you're planning to mail in your returns, just know that the IRS processing centers are completely backed up right now. I mailed my 2023 return in February and didn't hear anything for 4 months. Finally got so frustrated that I tried Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually get someone on the phone at the IRS. They have this system that navigates the IRS phone tree and gets you to a real person - you can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was shocked but I actually got through and confirmed they received my return but hadn't processed it yet.
0 coins
Liam McGuire
•How does this actually work? Seems kinda sketchy that they can somehow magically get through when the IRS phone lines are always busy.
0 coins
Amara Eze
•Yeah right. Nothing gets through the IRS phone system. I've tried calling 50+ times over the past couple months with no luck. Highly doubt this actually works as advertised.
0 coins
QuantumQuasar
•It's not magic - it basically just automates the calling process and handles all the button pushing and waiting for you. They use a system that keeps dialing and navigating the menus until it finds an opening to get through to a representative. Then it calls you when it has an actual human on the line. I was skeptical too, but they only connect you with official IRS representatives. You're not talking to some third-party company about your tax information - they just get you past the busy signals and menu systems to connect with actual IRS employees. I wouldn't have believed it either if I hadn't actually used it and finally got my question answered after months of trying on my own.
0 coins
Amara Eze
Ok I need to eat my words from my comment above. After another week of failing to get through to the IRS myself about my mailed-in returns, I broke down and tried Claimyr. Got a call back in about 35 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. Was able to confirm they received my mailed returns from 2022 and 2023 but they've been sitting in the backlog. The agent was actually really helpful and flagged my returns for processing. Definitely worth it if you're mailing in multiple years of back taxes and need confirmation.
0 coins
Giovanni Greco
When mailing in prior year returns, make sure to send them CERTIFIED MAIL with return receipt! I mailed in 3 years of returns last year and the IRS claimed they never received one of them. Had no proof of mailing and had to resend everything. The extra $5-10 is worth it for the peace of mind.
0 coins
Yuki Sato
•If I'm mailing 3 different years of returns, should I send them together in one certified envelope or separately?
0 coins
Giovanni Greco
•Definitely mail each tax year separately with its own certified mail tracking. The IRS processes different tax years in different departments, and if you send multiple years together, they might get separated internally with no tracking. I learned this the hard way. The $5-10 per envelope seems expensive, but it's nothing compared to the stress of having to redo everything or worrying about penalties continuing to accumulate while your return sits lost somewhere.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Farsi
Don't forget to sign and date each return! I mailed in my 2022 return last year and got it returned to me 2 months later because I forgot to sign it. Such a stupid mistake but it delayed everything. And make sure to use the correct address for where you're supposed to mail prior year returns - it's different depending on your state.
0 coins
Dylan Wright
•Good reminder! I've also heard they won't process a return without the proper attachments. So if you're claiming certain credits, make sure you attach ALL the required supporting documents.
0 coins
William Schwarz
Just wanted to add another important tip - when you print your W-2s from the IRS website, make sure you're printing them at 100% scale (not "fit to page"). The IRS can be picky about document formatting, and if the forms are shrunk down or stretched, it might cause processing delays. Also, if you have any 1099 forms (for contract work, interest, etc.), you can get those from your IRS transcript too and print them the same way. The key is making sure everything is legible and matches the official format exactly. I'd recommend doing a test print on regular paper first to check the formatting before printing your final copies on good quality paper.
0 coins