The fastest way to get a W-2 is to contact your employer or company’s payroll provider. These companies have a better chance of getting your W-2 to you quickly because they already have your address on file.
Using this method can save you a lot of time. In addition, it’s a proactive approach that reduces the likelihood of your W-2 being sent to the wrong address.
1. Contact Your Employer
As you probably know, you can only file your tax return once you have a copy of your W-2. It’s a document that lists your employer and the amount of money that was withheld from your paycheck during the year.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires companies to issue these documents no later than January 31, so they can be verified before you file your taxes. If you’re missing your W-2, there are a few things that you can do to make it easier to get it.
Option #1: Contact your former employer and ask if they can send you a copy of your W-2 from payroll. This process shouldn’t take too long, and you should be able to receive your W-2 within a few days.
If you’re still waiting for your W-2 to arrive, How can I get a copy of my W2 online for free? contact the IRS and explain your situation. The agency will likely recommend that you submit a substitute form, Form 4852, along with your tax return.
2. Contact Your Company’s Payroll Provider
A W-2 is a form that reports the amount of wages, tips or other compensation you earned over the course of a year. It also shows how much income tax was withheld from your pay, which can help you determine if you have an overpayment or whether you owe taxes.
The IRS requires all employers to provide Form W-2 to their employees no later than Jan. 31 each year, either by mail or electronically.
It’s important to choose a payroll provider that understands the needs of your specific industry and tailors their service accordingly. You want a payroll service that’s flexible enough to handle different types of businesses, including restaurants and hospitals, while still providing a reliable, easy-to-use system.
A good payroll service will calculate employee pay and taxes automatically, file your quarterly payroll taxes and issue employee W-2 and 1099 forms at the end of the year. They can also help you keep track of hours worked, import timecards into your payroll, and make payments by direct deposit or prepaid debit cards.
3. Contact the IRS
If you can’t get your employer or company’s payroll provider to send you a W-2, you may be able to get one from the IRS. Each year, your employer sends you a form called W-2 that lists your annual earnings and any federal, state or local taxes that were withheld from your paycheck.
The first number on the form is your Social Security number. The next numbers are your employer’s tax identification number (EIN) and a control number that identifies the W-2 document in your employer’s payroll system.
Boxes 2, 4 and 6 list your wages and any federal, state or local income taxes withheld from your pay. These are the amounts that you’ll report on your tax return when you file for income tax.
The IRS uses this information to verify the wages on your tax return and to confirm the withholdings that your employer made throughout the year. If you file without a W-2, it can delay the processing of your return and your refund.
4. Contact a Tax Professional
When you’re filing taxes, it’s important to make sure that all of your information is accurate. This includes your income, credit and deductions. You can use a W-2 to verify that your income and tax withholdings are correct.
If you’ve lost your W-2, contact your employer to request a copy of it. Your employer should be able to send you a new one in a timely manner, or you can also submit your form through the IRS.
A tax professional prepares income tax returns for individuals and businesses, as well as performs other accounting duties. They may use software programs like QuickBooks or Intuit ProSeries to manage and organize their clients’ financial data.
Conclusion
As a tax professional, you need to be aware of the latest tax laws, filing deadlines and ways to avoid penalties. Choosing the right tax books and other research materials can help you do your job more efficiently and accurately, while also adding value to your practice.
