When do employers issue W-2 forms and who doesn't receive them?

You definitely should receive W-2s from both employers since you earned well above the threshold. By law, employers must provide W-2s to all employees (not independent contractors) by January 31st regardless of how much they earned during the year. First, check if they sent it electronically - many companies now default to electronic W-2s through their employee portals or payroll systems. Log into any employee accounts you might still have access to. Also check your email spam folder for notifications. If you can't find them electronically, contact both companies' HR or payroll departments immediately. They might have an incorrect mailing address for you. If they're unresponsive, you can call the IRS at 800-829-1040 after February 15th to report the missing forms. Don't file without all your W-2s - the IRS receives copies of these forms from your employers, so they'll know if something's missing. You could face penalties for incomplete filing. However, as a last resort, you can use Form 4852 (Substitute for W-2) if you absolutely cannot get your W-2s but have your final pay stubs showing total earnings and withholdings.

I went through the exact same situation last year! After weeks of stressing about my missing W-2s, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was seriously a game-changer. I uploaded my last paystubs from both jobs, and their system was able to extract all the important tax information to help me file accurately. The tool analyzed my paystubs and created a substitute form that had all the right boxes filled in with the correct information that the IRS would be looking for. This saved me so much time compared to manually filling out Form 4852. Plus, they have this special verification feature that checks if your numbers match what employers typically report. One thing I really appreciated was that they explained which numbers from my paystub needed to go where on my tax return. Before that, I was totally confused about which withholding numbers to use!

Update: I wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai since I was initially skeptical. I ended up trying it last week when my former employer still hadn't sent my W-2 despite multiple calls to HR. The process was actually really straightforward. I uploaded my final paystub from December which showed my year-to-date totals, and the system identified all the important tax fields automatically. What impressed me was that it explained exactly which numbers corresponded to which boxes on a W-2 form - things I wouldn't have known to look for. I was able to file my taxes with confidence using this information instead of waiting indefinitely for my W-2. My return was accepted immediately, and I already received my refund deposit yesterday. Definitely saved me from having to file an extension!

After dealing with missing W-2s for two years in a row, I discovered the real trick is getting straight through to the IRS to fix this. I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to skip the insane wait times when calling the IRS. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Normally when you call the IRS about missing W-2s, you'll wait on hold for 2+ hours only to get disconnected, but with this service I got through to a real person in about 15 minutes. The IRS agent I spoke with sent formal requests to both my employers, and miraculously, my W-2s showed up in my mailbox the following week. Turns out my former employers had been sending them to an old address even though I'd updated my info in their systems. The IRS put pressure on them in a way my own calls never could. Saved me from having to file that substitute form and potentially dealing with mismatched information.

I need to eat my words about Claimyr being a scam. After my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to resolve my missing W-2 situation, so I decided to give it a try as a last resort. I'm honestly shocked at how well it worked. After three weeks of trying to call the IRS myself with no success, I was connected to an actual human at the IRS in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to confirm that my employer had indeed filed my W-2, but had an incorrect mailing address. They sent a formal notice to my employer, and I received my W-2 via email the very next day. What really surprised me was how much more helpful the IRS agent was than my employer's HR department. They not only resolved my immediate issue but also set up a protection on my account since they identified that this happened to me last year too. Saved me from having to file an extension!

Some important info that hasn't been mentioned yet: not everyone gets a W-2! If you're an independent contractor (like a gig worker, freelancer, etc), you would get a 1099-NEC instead of a W-2 if you earned over $600 from that company. How to tell the difference: Did they take taxes out of your paycheck? If yes, you're an employee and should get a W-2. If no taxes were withheld and you received the full amount, you're probably a contractor and should get a 1099. Some employers incorrectly classify employees as contractors to avoid payroll taxes. Check your pay stubs carefully!

Slightly off topic but important - if you worked at those places in different states, make sure you file state taxes for each state! I learned this the hard way when I worked in both Ohio and Kentucky last year and got a nasty letter from Kentucky about unfiled state taxes. Each W-2 will show the state info in boxes 15-17.

The IRS Free File program (https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free) includes free state filing for most participating software providers if your adjusted gross income is under $79,000. If you're over that threshold, many states offer their own free filing systems on their department of revenue websites. For multiple states, I'd recommend checking each state's official tax website - most have free e-file options for residents. Wisconsin has a free system called I-File, and Minnesota offers free filing through their Department of Revenue site. You can also use the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program if your income is under $64,000 - they'll help you file federal and all necessary state returns for free. Just make sure you understand the reciprocity rules between states - some have agreements where you only owe taxes to your resident state even if you worked elsewhere, while others require filing in each state where you earned income.

Hey Chloe! I work in payroll and see this issue all the time. Since you mentioned both Starbucks and Home Depot, here's what I'd suggest: For Starbucks, try logging into your Partner Hub account (if you still have access) - they usually post W-2s there first. For Home Depot, check if you can access MyApron or their employee self-service portal. If you can't access those systems, call their payroll departments directly rather than general HR. Ask specifically about "year-end tax documents" and confirm they have your correct mailing address. Sometimes companies send W-2s to the address on file from when you started, not your current one. Also important: both companies are required by law to have mailed or made available your W-2s by January 31st. If it's already February and you haven't received them, they're technically in violation. Don't be afraid to mention this when you call - it usually gets faster action. One more tip: if either company uses a payroll service like ADP, Paychex, or Workday, you might be able to create an account on those platforms using your SSN and previous employer info to access your W-2 electronically.