I changed addresses in January, will USPS forward my W2 from previous job?

Yes, USPS will forward your W2 to your new address. Tax documents like W2s aren't restricted from being forwarded like some government documents are. The "First-Class Mail" forwarding service covers tax documents including W2s for 12 months after you submit a change of address. That said, it's still a good idea to update your address directly with your former employer. This ensures they have your current info in their system. Many companies also offer electronic W2 access through their employee portals even after you've left - might be worth checking if yours does. If you don't receive your W2 by mid-February, definitely reach out to your previous employer. They're required to send W2s by January 31st.

After dealing with a similar W2 situation when I moved last year, I found an easier solution using https://taxr.ai that helped me track down missing tax documents. I was stressed about not getting my W2 after moving, and the tool helped me check if my former employer had even submitted it to the IRS. It analyzed my situation and gave me exact steps to follow based on my specific circumstance. Their document tracking feature confirmed when my W2 was processed and gave me peace of mind about the whole situation.

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after posting my skeptical question and it was actually really helpful! I found out my old employer HAD filed my W2 already (on Jan 29) but sent it to my old address despite me calling HR twice. The tool gave me a direct request template that cited specific regulations, and when I sent that to my old HR department, they emailed me a PDF copy of my W2 the same day. Saved me from having to wait for the forwarded mail which might have gotten lost! Now I can file my taxes without more delays.

If you still haven't received your W2 by mid-February and your employer isn't responsive, I highly recommend using https://claimyr.com to get through to a real person at the IRS. I tried calling the IRS myself about a missing W2 last year and spent HOURS on hold, getting disconnected twice. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes who initiated a trace on my missing tax docs. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they navigate the phone tree and wait on hold for you, then call you when an agent is on the line.

I need to eat some humble pie here. After being super skeptical about Claimyr, I decided to try it as a last resort when my W2 situation wasn't getting resolved. My former employer kept saying they mailed it, USPS said they forwarded it, but nothing ever showed up. I was getting desperate with the filing deadline approaching. The service actually worked exactly as advertised. They called the IRS, waited on hold (almost 90 minutes!), and then connected me when an agent came on the line. The IRS person helped me verify that my W2 had been filed and gave me the info I needed to complete Form 4852 since I couldn't get the actual W2. Saved me from having to file an extension and wait even longer for my refund.

You might also want to check if your previous employer offers electronic W2s through a portal like ADP or Workday. Many companies keep these systems accessible to former employees specifically for tax document access. I left my job in September and still was able to log in to their employee portal to download my W2 when it was ready. Worth checking before going through all the hassle with USPS forwarding.

Another option is to create an account on the IRS website and access your wage and income transcript. While it doesn't show the actual W2 form, it will show all the information reported to the IRS by your employer. This can be used to file your taxes if you can't get the physical W2. The transcripts are usually available by late February or early March.

USPS mail forwarding should handle your W2 just fine - they forward First-Class Mail for 12 months, which includes tax documents. However, I'd definitely recommend being proactive and contacting your former employer's HR or payroll department directly to update your address in their system. Even with forwarding, there's always a chance something could get delayed or lost in transit. Most employers are required to have W2s postmarked by January 31st, so if you don't see yours by mid-February (accounting for forwarding delays), that's when you'll want to start making calls. You can also check if your old company has an employee portal where you might be able to access your W2 electronically - many companies keep those accessible for former employees specifically for tax season. As a backup plan, remember that you can get a wage and income transcript from the IRS website (irs.gov) that shows the same info as your W2, though it takes until late February/early March to be available. It's not as convenient as having the actual form, but it'll let you file your taxes if needed.

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I moved states in December! USPS forwarding definitely works for W2s - they're considered First-Class Mail so they get forwarded automatically. Mine took about an extra week to arrive compared to my previous address, but it did come through. That said, I'd strongly recommend calling your old employer's payroll department (not your former manager) and giving them your new address. Even though forwarding works, it's better to have them send it directly to your current address to avoid any potential delays or delivery issues. One thing to keep in mind - if your old company was really disorganized like you mentioned, they might not have your W2 ready by the January 31st deadline anyway. If you don't receive it by February 15th, definitely start making calls. The IRS can help you after February 28th if your employer isn't cooperative, but hopefully it won't come to that!

I had a similar experience when I moved mid-tax season! USPS forwarding does work for W2s since they're First-Class Mail, but there can definitely be delays. What really saved me was setting up informed delivery with USPS - it shows you scanned images of mail that's coming to your address each day. That way you can track when your W2 is actually in transit and know if it gets stuck somewhere in the forwarding process. Also, if your old employer has a main corporate number, try calling that instead of your local office. Sometimes the corporate payroll department can handle address changes more efficiently than local HR, especially if your old location was disorganized like you mentioned. They usually have better systems in place for handling former employee requests. One last tip - keep records of when you set up mail forwarding and any communications with your employer about the address change. If you do need to contact the IRS later, having that documentation will speed up the process significantly.

One additional thing to consider - if you've already set up mail forwarding, you can also submit a "Change of Address" form (Form 8822) directly to the IRS. This ensures they have your current address on file, which can be helpful if there are any issues with your tax return processing or if you're due a refund. You can download it from irs.gov or mail in a handwritten note with your old address, new address, and SSN. This is separate from updating your address with your employer, but it's good to have both bases covered. The IRS form is particularly useful if you end up needing to contact them about missing tax documents later - they'll already have your current address in their system. Also, don't forget to update your address with your state tax agency if you moved to a different state. They often have separate requirements and deadlines for tax document delivery.