I need to contact previous employers for these years for my W2s as my local city needs them to determine if I payed the proper taxes for those years for a city wide audit.
2018-2019 online are no longer supported so these files can't be opened
they are not the actul w-2s but what you entered.
however there are two sources for W-2 info
IRS W-2 transcript
or pay the Social Security Admin for copies
https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-02501
You should be able to download the pdf of your whole return which should have a W2 worksheet for each W2. It won't be a copy of the actual W2s but just the entries you entered or imported.
How to Access prior year online returns
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/00/27010
If you can't get the side menus to open up to access the prior year..... You need to start entering some basic Personal Info in 2023 for the side menu to open up. Just continue a little ways into 2023. I had to go though about 12 screens.
If you used the Desktop CD/Download program then the only copy is on your computer and not saved or stored online. So you need to make and keep your own backups.
Or request a transcript from the IRS
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript
Or get a copy of your return using form 4506
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf