Employer won't send W2 - missed Jan 31 deadline. What are my options?
My old employer still hasnt sent my W2 and its already February. I've called them like 5 times and they keep giving me the runaround saying its coming soon or that there having system issues. Starting to get worried since I need to file my taxes. What can I do about this?
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Tristan Carpenter
If your employer hasn't provided your W-2 by January 31, contact the IRS directly at 800-829-1040. They'll reach out to your employer. You can also file Form 4852 (substitute W-2) if you know your wage and withholding info from your last paystub. Your employer can actually get fined for this.
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Maya Jackson
•thank u! do you know how long it usually takes for the IRS to contact them?
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Tristan Carpenter
•Usually takes about 2 weeks for them to reach out to the employer. But dont wait - start gathering your last paystub info now just in case
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Amaya Watson
Hey! Instead of trying to piece everything together yourself, I'd recommend using taxr.ai - it's this new tool that can help figure out exactly what your next steps should be. Its only $4.99 and totally worth it. Check it out: https://taxr.ai
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Grant Vikers
•is it legit? kinda sounds to good to be true 🤔
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Amaya Watson
•100% legit! It analyzes your transcript and tells you exactly what to do. Saved me hours of research and stress
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Grant Vikers
•just tried it and OMG where has this been all my life?! 💯 worth every penny
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Giovanni Martello
same thing happened to me last year smh. ended up having to file late bc my employer was being shady af 🤮
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Savannah Weiner
Document EVERYTHING. Save emails, record calls if legal in ur state. Some companies pull this to hide sketchy practices.
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Maya Jackson
•good idea! gonna start saving screenshots of everything
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Levi Parker
ngl these employers be playing games with peoples lives fr fr
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Libby Hassan
•fr tho! like we got bills to pay 😤
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Hunter Hampton
You can also file a complaint with your state's labor board. Most states take this pretty seriously.
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Maya Jackson
•didnt even think about that, thx!
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Taylor Chen
This is so frustrating! I went through something similar and here's what worked for me: First, send your employer a certified letter requesting your W-2 - this creates a paper trail. Then call the IRS at 800-829-1040 like others mentioned. While you wait, gather ALL your pay stubs from 2024 to calculate your total wages and withholdings. If you don't have them, check if your employer has an online portal where you can download them. The IRS can issue a CP2000 notice to employers who don't comply, and they face penalties of $50-$280 per missing W-2. Don't let them push you around - you have rights!
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Keisha Robinson
•This is really helpful advice! The certified letter idea is brilliant - creates that paper trail you need. Quick question though - do you know if there's a specific template or format the IRS recommends for that letter, or can it just be a simple written request?
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Ethan Clark
Adding to all the great advice here - if you do end up having to file Form 4852 (substitute W-2), make sure you're as accurate as possible with the numbers from your last paystub. The IRS will eventually match it against what your employer reports, so any discrepancies could trigger additional correspondence. Also, even if you file the substitute form, keep following up with both your employer and the IRS - sometimes the threat of IRS involvement is enough to get employers moving quickly. Good luck Maya, this situation sucks but you definitely have options!
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Nina Chan
•This is such solid advice! The matching process is something a lot of people don't realize - I learned that the hard way when I had to file a substitute form a few years back and had some small discrepancies that led to months of back-and-forth letters. Maya, definitely keep copies of EVERYTHING and maybe even consider filing for an extension if this drags on too long, just to give yourself more time to sort it out properly.
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