Need help getting 2012 W2 from IRS - any tips?
Hey everyone, I'm trying to get my W2 forms from 2012. I know it's been a while, but I need them for some paperwork. Has anyone had any luck getting old W2s from the IRS? Any tips or tricks would be appreciated!
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CosmicCrusader
Ugh, dealing with the IRS for old documents is such a pain. I had to do this last year for my 2013 W2s. It took forever, but I finally got them. Here's what worked for me: 1. First, try contacting your old employer. Sometimes they keep records longer than required. 2. If that doesn't work, you can request a wage and income transcript from the IRS. It's free and shows all the info from your W2. 3. You can do this online through the IRS website, but for older years like 2012, you might need to mail in Form 4506-T. 4. Be patient! It can take 5-10 business days for online requests, and up to 30 days for mailed requests. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
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Ethan Brown
•This is super helpful, thanks! Do you know if the wage and income transcript looks exactly like a W2? Or is it just the info?
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CosmicCrusader
•It's not an exact copy of the W2, but it has all the same information. Most places will accept it as a substitute for the actual W2.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•I tried this and it worked great! Just want to add that you can also call the IRS directly, but be prepared to wait on hold for a looooong time. 🙄
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Carmen Ortiz
man, 2012? thats like ancient history lol. good luck with the irs time machine 😂
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Andre Rousseau
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone at the IRS. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video explaining it: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c
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Zoe Papadakis
•Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit?
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Andre Rousseau
•Yeah, it's totally legit. I was skeptical at first too, but it saved me hours of hold time. Worth every penny imo.
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Jamal Carter
•20 bucks to skip the hold? sign me up! 🙌
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AstroAdventurer
Have you tried using the IRS Get Transcript tool online? It might have what you need without having to call anyone.
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Aisha Rahman
•I tried that, but it only goes back 10 years. 2012 is just out of reach ðŸ˜
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AstroAdventurer
•Ah, bummer. Looks like you might need to go the snail mail route then. Hang in there!
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Mei Liu
why do you even need a W2 from that long ago? just curious
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Aisha Rahman
•Long story, but it's for a legal thing. Wish I didn't have to deal with this tbh
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Mei Liu
•Oof, legal stuff. Say no more. Hope you get it sorted out!
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Liam O'Sullivan
Pro tip: If you filed your taxes electronically that year, your tax preparer might still have a copy of your W2. Worth a shot!
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