I have not received my W2. I've contacted my employer, but still haven't gotten it.

[DoctorWho]

I have not received my W2 from my employer. Now that it's late February I am very concerned. I've contacted my HR rep, to no effect.

I've done all I know to do. What else can I do?

[DoninGA]

Go to the IRS Tax Topic on what to do if your employer has not provided the W-2 - https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc154

[DoctorWho]

I have contacted my employer. They just made light of the whole thing, said they'd provide me with a W2, then did nothing.

[DianeW777]

If you have your pay stubs and year to date totals you can file a substitute W2 with your tax return. This is provided by the IRS so that you can file your tax return if your employer is not cooperative. If the steps below fail, the Form 4852, which is the substitute W2 can be used by filing a paper return in the mail.

• How do I file a substitute W2 using Form 4852?

Since you have tried contacting your employer without results, there is another option before filing the substitute W2. The IRS Transcript system contact the Social Security Administration (SSA). 

• IRS FAQ W2 Transcript

[DoctorWho]

Using topic # 154 (Form W-2 and Form 1099-R (What to do if Incorrect or Not Received)), I just called the IRS at [phone number removed], as that form instructed. I listened to the instructions four times. Nothing in the instructions, I felt, related to how to handle not having received my W-2 from my employer.

If anyone has insight into what obscure topic I should select, when selecting an option at [phone number removed], please, let me know. I'm sure it's under something which isn't obvious to me.

[JulieS]

According to the IRS, you are supposed to contact them to report that your employer is not providing you with your W-2 form. 

After you do that, they will contact your employer and request that they provide you a copy. You have said you did that, but you thought it didn't make sense.

After that, the IRS will send you instructions for filing a substitute W2 on Form 4852. To do that in TurboTax:

1. Select Federal on the left side menu.
2. Select Wages and Income toward upper left.
3. Click Edit or Add to the right of Job (W2).
4. If you worked for this employer last year, select the W2 entry that rolled over from last year. If you didn't work for them last year, select Add W2.
5. Enter your W2 information as completely as you can.
6. On the question, Let's check for uncommon situations, select the third choice, Didn't get a W-2 (manually calculate my earnings).
7. Select Continue.
8. Complete the next few screens. 
9. When you get to Your substitute W-2 is ready to print, be sure to print and/ or save a copy for your records.

Please note you will be able to print and mail in your tax return with a substitute W2 statement, but you won't be able to e-file. 

[DoctorWho]

Hi JulieS, 

I wasn't clear in what I tried to say. Last night I called the phone number given in the form from the IRS, to report my employer's not sending me a W2. What didn't make sense to me was the options I had to choose from on the automated answering service with the IRS. None of the options, to my mind, had anything to do with reporting a missing W2. They were all about other things (e.g.: getting information on how to enter one's income tax return, etc.) I'm guessing that of all the options the IRS listed in their automated system, something would be related to reporting a missing W2. The question is what option will lead me to probably another list of options, then perhaps to a third list of options, which will finally get me to where I can report the missing W2.

I hope I've made it clearer.

[HeatherPLO]

@DoctorWho

In addition to JulieS's instructions above, have you tried reaching out to the employer as well?  Also, please see the workaround instructions below to get to a live agent with the IRS.  I have also included a Help Article that discusses your options if you haven't received your W2.  

IRS: 800-829-1040  

Hours: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM, local time 

Monday-Friday

• Listen to each menu before making the selection.
• First choose your language. Press 1 for English.
• Then do NOT choose the first choice re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.
• Instead, press 2 for "personal income tax".
• Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".  
• Then press 3 "for all other questions."
• Then press 2 "for all other questions."  It should then transfer you to an agent.

[DoctorWho]

@HeatherPLO yes, I have spoken with my HR representative. I talked to her in mid-February. She asked me for my mailing address, which I gave to her in an email. Then she said they would send me the W2. That has never happened.

Thank you very much for the detailed instructions on what to select from the IRS. I'll call them tomorrow evening immediately after work.

[KatrinaLO]

Please see the information here for the IRS phone number and assistance.

[DoctorWho]

Hi @KatrinaLO and @HeatherPLO 

I've just called the IRS, twice, to report my employer not sending my W2 to me, even though, as I said, I talked to them about this in mid-February. I went to the link you gave KatrinaLO on How do I contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)? I was shocked to see that they said, "IRS phone lines are typically very busy during the February through April filing season." What then is the point of telling taxpayers to wait until February to report employers not sending employees W2, as is done in tc154?!!! That's just setting me up to FAIL! Why do that??? I could have called earlier. I was obeying the rules. For that, I get punished. That is SO WRONG!!!

HeatherPLO, I've got to give to you additional information which your detailed explanation did not cover. I'm sure that the information you gave was accurate, at some point in the past. At the end of your instructions you wrote:

"Then press 2 'for all other questions.' It should then transfer you to an agent"

It did not do that. Instead it asked me a question, which wasn't in your instructions. I didn't write it all down, but it went something like this, "To access account information enter your SSN. Or enter the employer's ID number". Since this wasn't covered in your instructions I wasn't sure what to do. I tried entering my SSN, but then it said that they were too busy, they couldn't answer the phone, call back another day. I've no idea what it would have done if I'd entered my employer's ID. Moreover I am not my employer so I think selecting that option would have taken me to a menu for employers. i.e.: I think it would have sent me to the wrong place.

So, what do I do now, please?

[DoninGA]

@DoctorWho 

Use this procedure to contact the IRS.  It is not an absolute guarantee you will get an agent but many have said it works even if you are put on hold.

Call the IRS: 1-800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Monday-Friday
When calling the IRS do NOT choose the first option re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.
So after first choosing your language, then do NOT choose Option 1 (refund info). Choose option 2 for "personal income tax" instead.
Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".
Then press 3 "for all other questions."
Then press 2 "for all other questions."
- When it asks you to enter your SSN or EIN to access your account information, don't enter anything.
- After it asks twice, you will get another menu.

Press 2 for personal or individual tax questions.
Then press 4 for all other inquiries
It should then transfer you to an agent.

[DoctorWho]

Thank you, @DoninGA, this has gotten me further along. Unfortunately I still got to the point where they told me that they couldn't answer my call, to call back another day, then they hung up on me. (I thought calling early in the morning would have allowed them to put me on hold for an hour or two, then get to me, but apparently that isn't the case.)

I'll continue to do this throughout the day, but now I'm wondering if I should either send a letter to the IRS giving them the information, they require in the tc152 form? Or, if there's an IRS office near me, should I just go there?

[DoninGA]

@DoctorWho This is the IRS website for Tax Topic 152 if you have not already viewed the topic - https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc152

You can try the local IRS office but have heard even those are not accepting appointments.

See this IRS website for local IRS offices - http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-Your-Local-IRS-Office-1 or call 1-844-545-5640 to set up an appointment

Otherwise it is just a wait and see.  The IRS may be sending you a letter in the mail if they found anything wrong with the return or need to verify your identity.