topic the employer EIN? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

How do I use the wage and income transcript ?

jtiarra0509 — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 18:50:46 GMT

For what purpose? Did you not receive a W-2 or 1099?

SweetieJean — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 18:50:47 GMT

For what purpose? Did you not receive a W-2 or 1099?

The Wage & Income transcript reports only "data from info...

BMcCalpin — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 18:50:48 GMT

The Wage & Income transcript reports only "data from information returns we receive such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098 and Form 5498, IRA Contribution Information." (see https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-return-transcript-types-and-ways-to-order-them). That is, the Wage and Income Transcript does not show your tax return, but the income forms that were copied to the IRS. This is often used to build a prior year tax return for taxpayers who did not file in a previous year, and who have misplaced their tax documents.

Using the Wage & Income Transcript, you can see the information that was reported on each W-2, 1099, and the other forms. If you are creating a prior year return from scratch, then you can look at the Transcript as the source of information to enter in place of the paper forms.

***

However, depending on what you need a transcript for, you may find the Tax Transcript more useful. Please see the following discussion.

You can see a sample IRS tax transcript at this link - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/New_Tax_Return_Transcript.pdf

The items that can be on a return are listed by description rather than by line number. For example, in the following transcript of a 2017 tax return (see below at ***),

Income refers to the income section on page 1 of the 1040 (see https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040--2017.pdf)
WAGES, SALARIES, TIPS, ETC refers to line 7
TAXABLE INTEREST INCOME refers to line 8a
TAX-EXEMPT INTEREST refers to line 8b
and so on.

***Part of sample tax transcript at the IRS website***

Income
WAGES, SALARIES, TIPS, ETC: $13,000.00
TAXABLE INTEREST INCOME: SCH B: $0.00
TAX-EXEMPT INTEREST: $0.00
ORDINARY DIVIDEND INCOME: SCH B: $0.00
QUALIFIED DIVIDENDS: $0.00
REFUNDS OF STATE/LOCAL TAXES: $0.00

ALIMONY RECEIVED: $0.00 BUSINESS INCOME OR LOSS (Schedule C): $2,500.00 BUSINESS INCOME OR LOSS: SCH C PER COMPUTER: $2,500.00

By crawling through the tax transcript you can rebuild a completed tax return with all the important numbers (and quite a few less important ones).

Re: For what purpose? Did you not receive a W-2 or 1099?

yunghungdad — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 03:37:32 GMT

I moved and lost my w-2's and now have the wage and income transcript but no idea how to use it to do my taxes and I can't find any instructions or help anywhere

Re: For what purpose? Did you not receive a W-2 or 1099?

Critter — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 06:14:50 GMT

The wage transcript is a shorthanded version of the W2 ... just read it and you will see the employers name and EIN# plus boxes 1 thru 14 of the W-2 form so you will enter the info on the W-2 input screen as if you had the real form in front of you ... go slow and read it carefully. What you will not have on the Federal transcript is any of the state information. If you need to file a state return you will need to get a duplicate copy of the form from the employer.

the employer EIN?

golden79 — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 16:59:04 GMT

i only have the last four of the EIN number?

Re: the employer EIN?

VolvoGirl — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 17:16:33 GMT

@golden79 On what? A W2 box b or a 1099Misc Payer's TIN? If it is a 1099Misc it could be the last 4 digits of their SSN. You can enter 1099Misc income without it.

Re: the employer tax ID #

ValerieLOBK — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 14:05:22 GMT

I am working on a previous year return by using a Wage and Income Transcript for a family member but it does not list the full name & tax ID for the employer (ex: employer is "A PL" & tax ID "xxxxx1234"). Can this be used for submitting the taxes & how do I list this on the tax return?

Thanks in advance for any info/assistance,

Re: the employer tax ID #

xmasbaby0 — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 14:21:36 GMT

@ValerieLOBK

It sounds like you are doing a big favor for a family member who did not save their own tax documents and records. Since the transcript you are working with lacks some of the information you need such as the employer ID, you may have to contact that employer to ask for the ID #. Better still, have the family member do that. If your family member lives in a state with a state income tax, the transcript is not going to have any of the state information you need to prepare a state return. If at all possible, get the former employer to send a copy of the W-2.

Another option is to pay Social Security for a copy of the W-2. It will cost $86.

To get a copy of a W-2 from Social Security https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-02501

Re: the employer tax ID #

lolcat420 — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 00:19:46 GMT

Yes, you can use it. You get the wages and income transcript from the IRS, who gets all their info from the SSA. the TurboTax software might not take it without this, but you can still file. Call HR at that company, or try googling say "walmart ein" Google says "The employer identification number (EIN) for Walmart Inc. is [social security number removed]." be careful though. most folks that work at walmart work for Wal-mart Associates. EIN 71-0794409 - Wal-mart Associates, Inc., Bentonville ... So its good that you have the last 4 to compare. subsidiaries are like this often.

Re: the employer tax ID #

Critter — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 00:28:17 GMT

The program will give you many errors for the missing info (but since you must mail in the returns and attach a copy of the transcript) it really doesn't matter. Ignore those error messages.

Re: How do I use the wage and income transcript ?

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 02:22:23 GMT

the problem with the IRS transcript is that it will not contain any state info. if you have to file a state return you can get a full replacement copy from the Social Security Administration though there is a fee.

Re: How do I use the wage and income transcript ?

MsMoore21 — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 01:09:33 GMT

I am mailing in 4 years of back taxes. On my 2015 taxes I don't have my W-2 for one of my jobs. I have a Wage and Income Transcript. I used that info for my missing W-2. Can I mail the transcript in, in place of my W-2? Or can I get a replacement W-2 from an employer that is no longer in business?

Re: How do I use the wage and income transcript ?

JeffreyR77 — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 01:17:41 GMT

Yes, you can use a Wage and Income transcript in place of a W2 when preparing and filing back taxes.

A Wage and Income transcript will not provide you state income tax withholding information.

Re: How do I use the wage and income transcript ?

MsMoore21 — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 01:33:48 GMT

Thank you for answering. Can you tell me is there a way that I can get a copy of a 2015 W-2 from an employer that is no longer in business. I was told to try the SSA and I paid $91 for pretty much another wage and income transcript. What exactly do I ask for to receive a copy of the W-2 in order to file my state taxes? I live in Oklahoma if that helps.

Re: How do I use the wage and income transcript ?

WendyN2 — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 01:58:28 GMT

No, unfortunately, if this former employer is no longer in business, you would not be able to get one directly from them. If you recall the payroll processing company they used (if they used one - for ex - PayChexs or ADP) you could definitely contact them and get the information from them after verifying your identity. Your IRS transcript, however, would have all of the necessary information for filing a return for that year if that is what you are attempting to do.

Re: How do I use the wage and income transcript ?

tomsk01 — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 22:27:34 GMT

Can you give me the # need for this form? We filed, but you call and we can never connect and therefore I cannot get my 2020 taxes done. I got from the IRS an Account transcript, but need the income wage transcript. Everytime I go and set up profile it says I can't. Please help

Re: How do I use the wage and income transcript ?

DoninGA — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 22:43:10 GMT

@tomsk01 wrote:

Can you give me the # need for this form? We filed, but you call and we can never connect and therefore I cannot get my 2020 taxes done. I got from the IRS an Account transcript, but need the income wage transcript. Everytime I go and set up profile it says I can't. Please help

If you cannot obtain the W-2 from your employer, then for a fee you can get a complete copy of a W-2 from the Social Security Administration - https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-02501

You can get a free Wage and Income transcript from the IRS - https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

For a fee of $43 you can get a complete federal tax return to include copies of W-2's, if you mailed the tax return and included a paper W-2, from the IRS by completing Form 4506 - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

See this IRS Tax Topic - http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc159.html

Re: For what purpose? Did you not receive a W-2 or 1099?

Chanebang — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 16:08:39 GMT

did not get w2's

Re: For what purpose? Did you not receive a W-2 or 1099?

JohnB5677 — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 16:23:01 GMT

What To Do If You Haven't Receive

Step 1: Check online. Many employers now issue Form W-2 electronically to employees. But that doesn't mean they'll always email the form to you, as it isn't particularly secure. Instead, they'll email you a link to an online portal where you can download the form yourself.
Step 2: Ask your employer. If your online search leaves you empty-handed, contact your employer's payroll or human resources department to ask when and how they issued your W-2. If they mailed it to an old or incorrect address, the post office may have returned it to the employer.
Step 3: Contact the IRS. What happens if your employer truly never issued your W-2? Perhaps they went out of business or aren’t responding to your request for a W-2? In that case, it's time to try contacting the IRS. Find a local IRS office

Be ready to provide the following information:

Your name, address, Social Security number, and phone number
The employer's name, address, phone number, and Tax ID if you have it
The dates you worked for the employer
An estimate of your wages and federal income tax withheld (you can usually find this information on your last pay stub for the tax year)