Can I file my taxes with my last check stub if I don’t have my W-2s

No.

Please do not try to use your pay stub to prepare your tax return.  It will not match the W-2 that you will get from your employer in just a few short weeks.  Your employer has until the end of January to give you your W-2.  By waiting for your W-2 you will be able to file accurately.  If you try to guess what goes in the W-2 “boxes” and mess up your return, you will need to amend.  It takes about 4 to 6 months to amend a tax return.  The IRS will not be accepting 2025 returns until late January —  so you can wait for your W-2.  If you are hoping to get a quick tax refund by filing early, using your pay stub might have the opposite result.  Your tax return will not match the W-2 reported to the IRS by your employer; this may result in rejection of your return — or if accepted, could actually delay your refund for months.  And, if you are hoping to get EIC or the child tax credit, your refund will not be released until late February anyhow due to the PATH act.  It is much wiser to wait for your W-2 and file correctly.

And….remember….ALL of your 2025 W-2’s go on the SAME tax return.

If you are hoping for a quick refund by filing as early as possible, you might be making a mistake that will have you waiting for your refund for months.

Users who rush to file early often end up under review or file with mistakes that require them to amend later.   If you file before the IRS is accepting returns, your return just sits on a server, where you will be powerless to fix any mistakes you discover after you file.   No changes can be made when your return is pending on a server.  And….every year…..Every. Year.  …..we get users who want to know how to fix their incorrect e-filed returns that are sitting on the server.

Why rush and possibly have to amend? The IRS won't open e-filing until around 1/26/26, though Turbotax will accept some earlier that just sit on its servers until e-filing officially opens. Issuers of tax documents have until 1/31 to make them available, but those sent by mail may not arrive until early February. If you have a brokerage account, the 1099s may not come until mid-February or later. Check stubs may not reflect correctly all the info