If both of my employers died tragically by murder/suicide, how do I get my W2?

[JosephS1]

There are multiple ways to receive/file your W-2 information.  I will list them in what I would consider easiest to hardest: 

1. The initial approach would be to try to determine if your former employer used a service or accounting firm to prepare their W-2s and contact them for an actual copy.  Be prepared to show proof of identification and employment if this method is available.
2. File your return with a substitute W-2 via Form 4852 (instructions and link below).  If you decide to go the substitute W-2 way first it will be best if you have your last pay stub showing year-to-date gross wages and withholding taxes for verification that you are entering the correct numbers.
3. Request a wage and income transcript from the IRS.  If they prepared and submitted the business's W-2s themselves this may be impractical if the situation you mention occurred before December 31, 2022, and they did not have anyone remaining in the business to handle accounting affairs.  Most likely, if this method is possible, the wage and income transcript will not be available until late February or March at the earliest.

How do I file a substitute W-2

Form 4852 Substitute for Form 4852

How to get Wage and Income Transcript

[20feb02]

Thank you so much for helping me. I’m still in college and this is a unique situation, to say the least. I have no idea if they used an accounting firm and this incident happened at the end of summer, so I think #2 is my only option. Thanks for the help!