How to get old W-2s from previous employers like Shake Shack without contacting them?

You have a few good options for retrieving old W-2s and 1099s without contacting former employers: The easiest way is to request a Wage and Income Transcript from the IRS. This transcript shows data from information returns like W-2s, 1099s, and 1098s that were reported to the IRS. You can get these transcripts going back 10 years, so your 2015 forms should still be available. You can request this transcript online through the IRS website by creating an account at their "Get Transcript" service. If you can't verify your identity online, you can also mail Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) and specifically check box 8 for the Wage and Income Transcript. Another option is to check if you have copies of your tax returns from that year - sometimes people keep the W-2 attached to their filed returns. Or if you used tax preparation software back then, you might be able to log into your old account and find the information there.

Hey, I went through the same thing last year trying to get W-2s from 2017. I spent hours on hold with my old company's HR department before I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). Seriously been a lifesaver for getting past tax documents. They access your tax transcript info directly from the IRS database without you having to deal with the IRS website (which is confusing AF). I just uploaded my ID and answered a few security questions, and they pulled all my past W-2s and 1099s going back several years. Way easier than trying to track down documents from places I worked at years ago. They organized everything by year too which made it super easy to find exactly what I needed.

Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after posting my skeptical comment. I was genuinely surprised how smoothly it worked. Got my old W-2s from 2016-2018 that I needed for a mortgage application in about 15 minutes. The security verification was actually pretty thorough which made me feel better about using the service. Definitely easier than trying the IRS website where I kept getting locked out. And wayyy better than calling my old boss at that startup that went under!

If you need to actually talk to someone at the IRS to get this sorted out (which I ended up having to do for my situation), use Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was hitting my head against the wall trying to get through to a human at the IRS for two weeks about some missing 1099s from 2016. Their callback service actually works! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was on hold for like 3 minutes instead of 3 hours, and they connected me with someone who could actually help with accessing my old tax docs. The IRS rep walked me through how to get all my missing income statements without contacting my old employers.

OK I need to admit I was totally wrong about Claimyr. I tried it after posting my skeptical comment and I'm honestly shocked. Got a call back in about 45 minutes and was talking to an actual IRS person who helped me get wage transcripts for the past 6 years. I was ready to argue with them because I was so sure it was BS but it actually worked exactly like they said. Saved me from sitting on hold during my entire lunch break for the third day in a row.

Another option is to check with your tax preparer if you used one that year. When I needed my 2014 W-2, H&R Block still had it on file. Also if you filed electronically through TurboTax or similar, you might be able to login to your old account and download the info.

Social security administration also has your wage history if you create an account on their website! Not as detailed as a W-2 but shows earnings by year and employer.

I went through this exact situation a couple years ago when I needed old W-2s for a background check. Here's what worked for me: First, definitely try the IRS Get Transcript service that others mentioned - it's free and official. But heads up, the identity verification can be tricky if you've moved around a lot or don't have established credit history at your current address. If that doesn't work, here's a lesser-known option: many payroll companies (like ADP, Paychex) keep records longer than individual employers do. If you remember who processed your paychecks, you can sometimes contact them directly. They'll usually need your SSN and employment dates, but don't require you to go through your old manager. Also, check if you have any old bank statements from that time period - they sometimes show the employer name on direct deposits, which can help you figure out the payroll processor if you're not sure. For the 1099s, if you remember the companies that paid you, you can often find their tax ID numbers online and request copies directly from their accounting departments. Most businesses are pretty good about providing these since they're required to keep the records anyway. The key is being persistent but also having multiple backup plans. Don't put all your eggs in one basket!

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I work in HR and deal with these requests pretty frequently. A lot of people don't realize that even if a restaurant or small business has closed down, their payroll records often get transferred to whoever handled their final tax obligations or business dissolution. You can also try searching your state's unclaimed property database. Sometimes when businesses close, unclaimed wages or final paychecks end up there along with employment records. It's a long shot but I've seen people find old employment documentation this way. Also, don't underestimate just calling the restaurant location even if you left on bad terms. Staff turnover is so high in food service that probably nobody from 2015 is still there anyway! The current manager might be able to access old payroll systems or at least tell you what company handled their HR back then. One more tip - if you filed taxes that year and used a CPA or tax prep service, they might have kept digital copies. Even if you can't remember exactly who you used, check your old bank statements for tax prep fees around April 2016. Many places keep records way longer than you'd expect.

Another route to consider - if you used any tax software like FreeTaxUSA, Credit Karma Tax (now Cash App Taxes), or even older versions like TaxACT, try logging into those accounts too. I managed to recover my 2014 W-2s from an old FreeTaxUSA account I had completely forgotten about. Also, if you had direct deposit set up at Shake Shack, your old bank statements might show more detail than you realize. Sometimes the deposit descriptions include payroll company codes or reference numbers that can help you track down who was processing their payroll. Banks usually keep records for 7 years, so you might be able to request old statements if you don't have them saved. One more thing - if you're dealing with a chain restaurant like Shake Shack, they likely use a major payroll processor (probably ADP or Paychex). You could try calling their corporate HR line and asking which payroll company they used in 2015. Corporate is usually more helpful with these requests than individual franchise locations, and they have better record-keeping systems.

I've been in a similar situation and wanted to share what worked for me. The IRS Get Transcript service that others mentioned is definitely your best bet for official documentation, but I ran into issues with their identity verification process since I had moved several times. What ended up working was a combination approach: I found my old tax return from 2015 in a box of documents (had completely forgotten I kept paper copies), which had the W-2 attached. But for the 1099s I was missing, I actually contacted my state's Department of Revenue. They sometimes have copies of income documents that were reported for state tax purposes, and their website was much easier to navigate than the IRS site. Also, if you remember any of the freelance clients who gave you 1099s, it might be worth reaching out to them directly. Most businesses are required to keep these records for several years, and in my experience, they're usually pretty responsive to requests since they need the same documentation for their own tax purposes. One last tip - if you have any old email accounts from that time period, search for terms like "W-2," "tax document," or "payroll." Sometimes employers send electronic copies or notifications that you might have saved without realizing it.

I had this exact same problem a few years ago with missing W-2s from a retail job! Here's what I learned from going through the whole process: The IRS Get Transcript service really is your best option - it's free, official, and covers everything back to 2015. But if you're having trouble with the online identity verification (which is pretty common if you've moved a lot), you can also request transcripts by mail using Form 4506-T. It takes longer but sometimes works better than the online system. One thing that really helped me was calling the IRS taxpayer assistance line early in the morning (like 7 AM when they open). The wait times are usually much shorter then, and the agents can walk you through exactly what type of transcript you need. The wage and income transcript will have all your W-2 and 1099 information in a format that's accepted by most places that need income verification. Also, don't stress too much about the situation with your old manager! Restaurant turnover is so high that there's probably a completely different management team there now. But honestly, the IRS transcript route will be way easier than trying to track down individual employers anyway. Good luck getting this sorted out - I know how frustrating it can be when you need these documents for something important!

I went through this exact situation last year when I needed old W-2s from a coffee shop job in 2016. Here's what ended up working for me: First, definitely try the IRS Get Transcript service - it's free and official. But if you're like me and have moved around a lot, the online identity verification can be a pain. What worked for me was using the mail option with Form 4506-T. Takes about 2-3 weeks but it's much more reliable than the online system. One thing that really saved me was checking my old bank account statements online. Most banks keep digital records for 7+ years, and I was able to find direct deposit entries that showed exactly which payroll company processed my checks. Turned out my old coffee shop used ADP, so I contacted them directly with my SSN and employment dates. They had all my records and could provide official documentation. Also, since you mentioned Shake Shack specifically - they're a big enough chain that they definitely use a major payroll processor. Try calling their corporate HR number instead of the individual location. Corporate usually has better systems for handling these requests and won't care about any drama from your departure. For the 1099s, if you can remember any of the companies, just email their accounting departments. Most businesses are actually pretty good about providing these since they're required to keep the records anyway, and it's way less awkward than calling an old restaurant manager! The whole process took me about a month but was way less painful than I expected. Good luck!

Just wanted to add one more option that worked for me when I was in a similar situation - check if you have any old tax preparation receipts or confirmation emails from that year. I found a receipt from Liberty Tax that I had completely forgotten about, and when I called them, they still had my return on file with all the W-2s attached. Also, if you used any online banking or financial apps like Mint or Personal Capital back in 2015, they sometimes import and store tax document information that you might be able to access even years later. I was able to pull some income details from my old Mint account that helped me verify information when requesting transcripts from the IRS. One last thing - if you're dealing with multiple missing documents, consider creating a spreadsheet to track what you've tried and what you still need. This whole process can get overwhelming with all the different options, and having everything organized really helped me stay on top of which approaches were working and which weren't. Good luck getting everything sorted out!

I've been following this thread and wanted to share my own experience since I just went through this process successfully last month. The IRS Get Transcript service really is the gold standard - I was able to get wage and income transcripts going back to 2016 that included all my W-2 and 1099 data. The online identity verification was tricky at first (kept getting denied), but I called the IRS helpline and they walked me through submitting Form 4506-T by mail instead. Took about 3 weeks but got exactly what I needed. One thing I learned that might help - if you're missing multiple years of documents, you can request transcripts for several tax years at once on the same form. Just make sure to be specific about which type of transcript you need (the "Wage and Income Transcript" for W-2/1099 data vs. other types). Also wanted to echo what others said about corporate HR being way more helpful than individual locations. When I needed verification for an old retail job, the store level couldn't help at all, but corporate was able to confirm employment dates and direct me to their payroll processor within one phone call. The whole process was way less stressful than I built it up to be in my head. Don't let the embarrassment of past workplace situations keep you from getting documents you're legally entitled to - there are definitely multiple paths to get this resolved without having to face old managers!