You have a few choices in how to proceed. The first would be to contact your former employer and ask them to send you a copy. This is your best option. If that doesn't work, here are your choices:
1. Call the IRS for assistance at 800-829-1040. When calling, be ready
to give the following information:
- Your name, address and Social Security number.
- Your employer's name, address, city, state, zip code and telephone number,
even if your employer has gone out of business.
- Dates of employment.
- An estimate of the wages you earned and the federal income tax withheld.
Your estimate should be based on your final pay stub of the year or earnings
statement, if available.
The IRS will call the employer and advise them to send you your W-2s.
2. Obtain a Wage and Income Transcript from the IRS which shows data from information returns they receive such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098 and Form 5498, IRA Contribution
Information. Current tax year information may not be complete until
July. You can do so online or by telephone. Go to https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-return-transcript-types-and-ways-to-order-them for more information. This may not be available for 2016 yet.
3. Request Form 4852 from the IRS or download it and mail it
in. Form 4852 is a substitute W-2. You are allowed to estimate your wages based
on your final paystub. TurboTax can guide you through filling out Form
4852.
If you do file your taxes using Form 4852, you will
have to amend your return once you receive your W-2 or W-2C if amounts on the
forms are different from the filed Form 4852.
