Do I actually need my W2 form or can I file taxes using my last paycheck stub?

You absolutely need your W2 to file your taxes properly. While your final paycheck stub might have similar information, it's not the same as an official W2 form. The W2 is a specific tax document your employer is legally required to provide, and it contains information that might not be on your pay stub. For example, the W2 includes employer identification information, specific wage and tax categories, and potentially other deductions or benefits that might not appear on regular pay stubs. The IRS requires you to attach or report information directly from your W2 when you file. Your coworker has been taking a serious risk. The IRS reconciles the information you submit with what employers report. If there are discrepancies (which is likely when using pay stubs), it could trigger an audit or result in an incorrect return.

I've been in a similar situation where I needed my tax refund quickly but was waiting forever for my W2. I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which was super helpful for this exact problem. You can upload your last paystub and it will analyze the information to help estimate your tax situation, but it also clearly explains why you still need your official W2 for filing. The tool gave me a really good estimate of what my refund would be before my W2 arrived, so I could plan ahead. It also explained exactly what additional information would be on my W2 that wasn't on my paystub, which was eye-opening. Definitely saved me from making a mistake like your coworker!

Just wanted to update on my experience with taxr.ai from my question above. I went ahead and tried it with my multiple paystubs and was honestly surprised how helpful it was. I could see EXACTLY why I needed to wait for my official W2s (some employer-provided benefits weren't showing on my last paystub). The tool estimated I'd get about $1,850 back based on my paystubs. When my W2s finally came and I filed officially, my actual refund was $1,792. Pretty impressive accuracy! It definitely made the waiting less stressful knowing approximately what I'd be getting back. Thanks for the recommendation!

If you're having trouble getting your W2 from your employer, you should know there's a better solution than calling the IRS and sitting on hold forever. I used a service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) last year when my former employer never sent my W2 and wasn't responding to calls. Claimyr basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you when an agent is about to answer. You can see a quick demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was skeptical but desperate after waiting on hold for hours myself. Within a day, I was connected to an IRS agent who helped me file a complaint against my employer and gave me instructions on how to file without the W2 using Form 4852.

I need to eat my words from my skeptical comment earlier. After another frustrating 2-hour hold with the IRS that disconnected, I tried Claimyr out of desperation. Within about 3 hours, I got a call connecting me directly to an IRS agent who actually helped me resolve my missing W2 issue. The agent confirmed what others here said - using just your last paystub is NOT acceptable for filing taxes. However, they walked me through filling out Form 4852 (Substitute for W2) which is the proper way to file if your employer never sends your W2. Saved me so much stress and probably kept me from making a huge mistake following advice like your coworker's.

Your friend is playing with fire. In addition to what others have said, there's a section on the W2 (Box 12) that can contain really important codes for things that affect your taxes but might not show up clearly on a paystub. Think retirement contributions, health savings accounts, dependent care benefits, etc. Missing these could mean missing out on tax benefits or incorrectly reporting things. Not worth the risk when the W2 is coming anyway, just a little later than you'd like.

Has anyone tried just asking their employer for an early copy of their W2? I was able to get mine emailed to me a week before they officially sent them out just by asking my HR department. Might be worth a try if you're eager to file!

Adding to what everyone else has said - your coworker is definitely taking a huge risk. I work in tax preparation and see people get in trouble for this exact thing every year. The W-2 contains specific information that paycheck stubs don't always have, like dependent care assistance, group life insurance over $50k, and other fringe benefits. What's particularly dangerous is that when the IRS eventually matches your filed return against what your employer reported (which they will), any discrepancies can result in penalties, interest, and potential audit flags. I've seen people owe hundreds in penalties just because they estimated wrong using their paystub. If you're really anxious about filing early, try calling your payroll department directly. Many companies can provide W-2s electronically before they mail the paper copies. It's a much safer approach than risking IRS issues down the road.