What is a W-2 form?
A W-2 form is a tax form that reports the wages and salaries paid to an employee by their employer over the course of a calendar year. The form also reports the amount of federal, state, and other taxes withheld from the employee's paycheck. Employers are required to provide their employees with a W-2 form by January 31st of each year.
The W-2 form is used by employees to file their income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state tax agencies. It is also used by the Social Security Administration to track an individual's earnings and determine their eligibility for Social Security benefits.
How do I get my W-2 form?
Your employer is required to provide you with a W-2 form by January 31st of each year. If you have not received your W-2 form by mid-February, you should contact your employer to request a copy. If you have left your job and have not received your W-2 form, you can contact the IRS for assistance in obtaining a copy.
Many employers now offer electronic delivery of W-2 forms, which can be accessed through a secure online portal. If you have opted for electronic delivery, you should receive an email notification when your W-2 form is available.
What should I do if there is an error on my W-2 form?
If you notice an error on your W-2 form, you should contact your employer as soon as possible to request a corrected form. If you have already filed your tax return with the incorrect information, you may need to file an amended return with the correct information.
Common errors on W-2 forms include incorrect Social Security numbers, incorrect amounts of wages or taxes withheld, and missing or incorrect employer identification numbers.
Can I file my taxes without a W-2 form?
You cannot file your taxes without a W-2 form or a substitute form that provides the same information. If you have not received your W-2 form by mid-February, you should contact your employer to request a copy. If you are unable to obtain a copy from your employer, you can contact the IRS for assistance in obtaining a substitute form.
Nick Simpson
Founder @ WorkMade
I started working for myself at 9. My first tax bill showed up at 14. I didn’t understand it, and nobody around me could really explain it. If you’ve been there, you get it. Twenty years later, after creative directing for brands in New York and buying and selling a few companies, I kept seeing the same thing: smart, talented people losing money to a system that wasn’t built for how they work. That’s why I built WorkMade. Not to make taxes “easier to understand” but to make them disappear into the background, so you can get on with your life.