How to obtain past W2 forms and determine pre-tax income from 2022

Thanks for the detailed response! I just tried the Get Transcript tool but it's asking for a credit card number that matches my name/address, which is a problem because I recently got a new card with a different number. Is there another way to verify my identity on the site? Also, on the 1040 form, I see that line 1 says $52,680. Would that be close to my pre-tax income or would that number be significantly different?

If you're having trouble with the online verification, you can also request the transcript by phone at 800-908-9946. They'll mail it to your address on record. Alternatively, you can visit a local IRS office in person if you need it urgently - just make sure to schedule an appointment through the IRS website first. Line 1 showing $52,680 is your reported wages after pre-tax deductions like retirement contributions or health insurance premiums were taken out. This means your actual pre-tax income was likely higher. The difference could be significant depending on your retirement contributions and other pre-tax benefits. That's why getting the W2 is important since it will show both your taxable wages (Box 1) and your total wages before deductions (typically in Box 3 or 5).

How does this compare to just using the IRS website directly? Is it actually getting the same information or is there something different? I'm a bit concerned about putting my tax info into some random site.

Does it show the actual W2 form or just the information? I need a copy of the actual form for my mortgage lender. Also wondering if it works for older years like 2017-2018?

It's accessing the exact same information as the IRS website, but it handles all the authentication issues and organizes everything in a much more user-friendly way. I had the same concerns at first, but they use the same security standards as the IRS site itself. It basically streamlines the whole process without the frustrating login/verification issues. It provides all the W2 information in a clear format rather than the actual form image, but mortgage lenders typically accept IRS transcripts as valid documentation. Most just need to verify the income amounts. And yes, it works for older years too - I was able to pull data going back to 2018 without any issues.

Wait, is this legit? How does this even work? I thought there was no way to skip the IRS phone queue. Are they just paying people to wait on hold for you or something?

I'm pretty suspicious of this. Why would the IRS give priority to some third-party service? Sounds like they're just charging for something you could do yourself for free if you're willing to wait on hold.

It doesn't skip the queue at all - they use an automated system that waits on hold for you and then calls you when an IRS agent is actually on the line. The IRS has no idea you're using a service - you're still going through their normal phone system, just not wasting your own time on hold. It's definitely not getting any special priority. They're basically just handling the wait time for you. I was skeptical too but when you need tax documents urgently and can't waste hours on hold, it's worth it. The IRS agent I spoke with was super helpful once I actually got through to them.

That's a great idea! I think they used ADP actually. Do you know if there's a general customer service number for employees to contact them or would I need a specific account number?

For ADP, try calling their W2 services line at 800-247-3237. You'll need to verify your identity with your SSN and some other basic info. If you had an online account with them previously, you might still be able to log in at https://my.adp.com even if you no longer work there. If you don't know what service they used, try asking former coworkers if you're still in touch with any. Even if you don't have an account number, most payroll providers can look you up by SSN and previous employer.

Some lenders do look at gross income before certain deductions. Self-employed people especially get evaluated differently. My mortgage broker wanted to see my gross contractual income rather than just what showed up on my tax return after all the deductions.

That makes sense for self-employed people, but OP mentioned a W2 which typically means they're an employee. For W2 employees, lenders usually just want Line 1 of the 1040 or Box 1 of the W2. Pre-tax retirement contributions don't usually get added back in unless the loan is borderline and they need to squeeze out a bit more qualifying income. If they're trying to qualify for a specific loan amount, they might want to know the maximum income they can claim. But generally, mortgage underwriters follow pretty standardized guidelines for W2 employees.