Where are the W-2 paper forms for 2024? Can't find them anywhere

So I've been searching high and low for W-2 paper forms for 2024 and I'm about to lose my mind. I need to file a W-2 with zero wages (long story, had to close my small business) but when I try to do it through BSO (Business Services Online), the system won't let me submit with no wages entered. I've literally checked every government website I can think of and the only paper W-2 forms I can find are for 2025! This is driving me insane. Has anyone else run into this problem? I'm seriously considering just filing electronically with $1 in wages just to get the system to accept it, but I don't want to cause problems down the road. Is the IRS just forcing everyone to file electronically now? Why make it so complicated for small business owners? Any help would be greatly appreciated because I'm completely stuck.

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18 comments

QuantumQuester

•8M

I've helped several small business clients with similar issues. The IRS has been moving toward electronic filing for years, but they do still offer paper forms - they're just harder to find now. For your zero wage W-2 situation, putting $1 could technically work but might trigger unnecessary questions later. Instead, try calling the IRS directly at 866-455-7438 (their Business and Specialty Tax Line) and request the paper forms be mailed to you. They should have 2024 W-2s available even if they're not showing up online yet. Another option is to check with your local IRS office - they often have physical copies of current year forms before they're widely available online. If you absolutely must file electronically, there's actually a specific checkbox for "zero wage" W-2s in most payroll systems that will allow the submission to go through.

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QuantumQuester

•8M

The deadline for filing W-2s is the same regardless of the wage amount - January 31, 2025 for the 2024 tax year. It's important to meet this deadline even for zero wage situations. Putting $1 instead of zero could potentially create discrepancies between your payroll records and tax filings. The IRS systems might flag this inconsistency, especially if you reported no quarterly payroll taxes. It's always better to report accurate information, even if it takes an extra step to do so. The zero wage checkbox exists specifically for situations like yours.

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Keisha Williams

•8M

I went through this exact nightmare last year! After hours of frustration, I found that taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) had a feature that helped me generate the proper zero-wage W-2 forms that BSO would actually accept. Their system actually explained that you need to use code "Q" in box 12 when submitting a zero-wage W-2, which is something the IRS doesn't make obvious. I was skeptical at first since most tax software doesn't handle these edge cases well, but their document assistance worked perfectly for my small business. They have templates specifically for these unusual situations that the standard IRS systems struggle with.

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Keisha Williams

•8M

The service helps you complete the forms correctly with all the proper codes and then generates printable PDFs that you can submit. It doesn't actually submit directly to the IRS, so you still maintain control of that part of the process, which I appreciated. It's definitely legitimate - I was in your same position trying to avoid paying for expensive software. What I liked was that it specifically addressed these unusual situations like zero-wage W-2s that most free services don't handle well. They have document recognition technology that can even identify when you're working with the wrong version of a form, which saved me from making a huge mistake with outdated forms I had downloaded.

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Paolo Ricci

•8M

Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after posting here and it was exactly what I needed! The system walked me through the zero-wage W-2 situation step by step and explained that I needed to use code "Q" in box 12 (like they mentioned). What really helped was that it showed me how to properly format everything so BSO would accept it. I was able to get all my forms correctly generated in about 15 minutes, which saved me from having to wait on hold with the IRS for hours. Thanks for the recommendation - would never have found this on my own!

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Oliver Zimmermann

•8M

Not to hijack this thread, but if you're trying to contact the IRS about this or any other tax issue, good luck getting through their phone lines! I spent 3 hours on hold last week before being disconnected. Then I found a service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual IRS agent in less than 20 minutes. They have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c For W-2 issues specifically, they can connect you to the right department so you don't waste time getting transferred around. I needed to get verification about some W-2 filing requirements for my business, and the IRS agent I spoke with was actually super helpful once I finally got through.

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Oliver Zimmermann

•8M

They use an automated system that continuously redials and navigates the IRS phone tree for you. When they finally get through to an agent, they call you and connect you directly to that person. It's basically like having someone wait on hold for you instead of doing it yourself. The service works because their system can make hundreds of call attempts in the time it would take us to make just a few. I was skeptical too until I tried it - I had already wasted a full morning trying to get through myself without success.

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Natasha Volkova

•8M

I feel like an idiot for doubting this. I tried Claimyr yesterday after posting that skeptical comment, and I'm genuinely shocked that it worked. After wasting 2+ hours on hold with the IRS earlier this week, their system got me connected to a real person in about 18 minutes. The IRS agent confirmed that for 2024 W-2s with zero wages, you need to use the electronic system with the special code, but she also sent me a link to download the proper paper forms that weren't showing up on the main website. Would have never figured this out without actually talking to someone. Definitely worth it just for the time saved.

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Javier Torres

•8M

Another option you might consider is using the Social Security Administration's Business Services Online (BSO) website. Even though you mentioned having trouble with it, there's actually a specific way to report zero wage W-2s through their system. When you're entering the W-2 information, check the "Zero Wage" indicator box in the W-2 Online application. This tells the system you're intentionally submitting a W-2 with no wage information. Here's the direct link to BSO if you need it: https://www.ssa.gov/bso/bsowelcome.htm

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Javier Torres

•8M

It's definitely not in an obvious place! You need to first select "Report Wages to Social Security" from the main BSO menu, then choose "Create/Edit W-2/W-2c Online." After you've entered the employee information, there should be a checkbox labeled "Zero Wage" near the bottom of the wage information section. If you still don't see it, make sure you're using the W-2 Online application and not the W-2 file upload option, as they have different interfaces. Also, sometimes you need to complete all the required fields first (name, SSN, address) before that option becomes visible. The BSO system is definitely frustrating to navigate!

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