you pretend that you actually got a w-2 so you enter the crucial info - employer name, address, EIN, wages, withholding, social security wages and withholding, medicare wages and withholding dependent care state info if applicable. there may be other info you need to enter which may affect your taxes. after that you eventually come to a screen that has the statement - "didn't get w-2" this is what generates the 4852. there will be additional questions like what did you do to try and get the w-2 and how did you determine amounts.
