Still haven't received my W-2 from old employer - when should I worry?

Thanks for the quick response! I didn't think about checking the employee portal - good idea. I'm pretty sure I still have login access. And I didn't know about that Form 4852 option either. Really helpful. Do you know if there's any penalty for the employer if they're late sending it out? Just curious. Also, if I do have to call HR, is there a specific way I should phrase it so I don't sound accusatory?

Yes, employers can face penalties for failing to provide W-2s on time. The IRS can impose penalties ranging from $50 to $280 per W-2, depending on how late they are. For intentional disregard, penalties can be even higher at $570 per W-2. When contacting HR or payroll, keep it simple and professional. Something like: "Hello, I'm a former employee who worked there until October. I haven't received my W-2 yet and wanted to confirm it was sent or if there's another way I can access it." This neutral approach focuses on solving the problem rather than placing blame. Mention you're trying to file your taxes promptly, which is a reasonable concern anyone would understand.

Did they charge anything for this service? I'm dealing with TWO missing W-2s right now and getting really frustrated. My last paystubs are confusing and I don't trust myself to get the numbers right.

How accurate was the info they gave you compared to your actual W-2 when you finally got it? I'm wondering if it's worth using something like this or if I should just wait it out another week.

They do have both free and paid options. The basic analysis of your paystub is free, which gives you the essential information needed for filing. They have premium features for more complex situations, but for just getting your W-2 information, the free version worked fine for me. The accuracy was surprisingly good. When I eventually received my W-2 about two weeks later, the numbers were nearly identical to what taxr.ai had calculated from my paystub. There was only a tiny difference of about $3 in one of the withholding categories, which would have made virtually no difference in my refund. Their system is designed to mirror how payroll systems calculate those year-end totals.

How does this even work? The IRS phone lines are impossible. I literally tried calling for 3 days straight last year and never got through. Are you saying this actually gets you past that nightmare queue system?

Yeah right. Nothing can get you through to the IRS faster. This sounds like a scam to get desperate people's money during tax season. I'll believe it when I see it.

It works by using a system that monitors the IRS phone lines and calls persistently until it gets through. Then when it establishes a connection, it calls your phone and connects you directly to the IRS agent. It essentially does the waiting for you. I was super skeptical too! I only tried it because I was desperate after trying for over a week to reach someone. But it actually connected me to an IRS representative in about 20 minutes. The agent I spoke with was able to confirm that they could send me documentation to help with my missing W-2 situation and explained exactly what steps I needed to take. Saved me hours of hold music and frustration.

Don't you need to create an ID.me account for that now? I tried doing that last year and it was a whole thing with uploading my ID and doing a video call verification.

Yes, you do need to verify your identity through ID.me or through the IRS's own identity verification process to access your transcripts online. It can be a bit tedious the first time, requiring documents like your ID, social security card, and sometimes a video selfie. If you're not comfortable with the online verification process, you can also request transcripts by mail using Form 4506-T or by calling the IRS, though those methods take longer (about 5-10 business days). The online method gives you immediate access once you're verified.

That's actually not a bad idea if they're local! My old job was cool about it. The HR lady even apologized and said a bunch got lost in the mail. Way better than waiting on hold with the IRS.

This is great advice, thank you! I'll start keeping track of my attempts to get it. Do you think a simple log with dates and times of calls would be sufficient, or should I be sending emails so I have written proof?

Email is definitely better because it gives you a clear paper trail. Send a polite email to HR or payroll requesting your W-2, mentioning that you haven't received it yet and the January 31st deadline has passed. If you call, follow up with an email summarizing the call ("As we discussed on the phone today..."). For extra protection, if they don't respond to regular emails after a week, send a certified letter with return receipt. This proves they received your request. The IRS takes this stuff seriously, and if your employer is systematically failing to provide W-2s, your documentation could help with any potential investigation.