Yes, the IRS can help locate a missing W-2. If you do not receive it by mid-February, call the IRS at 800-829-1040, providing your personal info and employer details. The IRS will contact the employer for you. Alternatively, you can use a "Wage and Income Transcript" from the IRS or file Form 4852.
If you don't get a W-2 by end of February
If you contacted your employer and still don't have your W-2, call us at 800-829-1040. Have your information ready so we can help you: Name, address and phone number. Social Security or individual tax ID number.
You have to make every effort possible to get the missing W-2(s). If you file without them, you will be filing an incorrect tax return that will likely come under review by the IRS. Every employer that issued a W-2 to you also sent a copy to the IRS with your SSN on it, so the IRS looks for all of it on your return.
In the event you lose your Form W–2, or require a duplicate copy you can download a copy from Cal Employee Connect under the "W-2" tab. You also can request one from the State Controller's Office. To do so you must obtain a Standard Form 436: Request for Duplicate Wage and Tax Statement: As a fill and print PDF form.
The IRS verifies W-2s and is watching for these scams
They also run the risk of criminal prosecution for filing a false tax return. For anyone who has taken part in one of these schemes, there are several options that the IRS recommends. People can amend a previous tax return or consult with a trusted tax professional.
No, the IRS doesn't catch every instance of unreported income, but their advanced data-matching systems catch most discrepancies involving third-party reporting (like W-2s, 1099s for freelance/interest/dividends) through automated checks, leading to CP2000 notices and potential penalties if missed; however, cash income, crypto, or lifestyle mismatches can also trigger scrutiny, though it's less certain than reported income, and high-income non-filers are a current focus.
Yes, you can get your W-2 information from the IRS through their website, but you'll typically get a Wage and Income Transcript, not the actual form, which shows data reported by your employer (Form W-2) but lacks state/local info. You can access this by creating an account at IRS.gov, selecting "Get Your Tax Record," and using the "Get Transcript Online" tool. This is a good option if you can't get it from your employer.
The biggest tax mistakes people make include filing late, math errors, incorrect personal info (like Social Security numbers), forgetting deductions/credits (like EITC), misreporting income, not signing forms, and making errors with bank details for direct deposit, all leading to delays, penalties, or missed savings, with using tax software or professionals helping avoid these common pitfalls.
The computer will likely flag it as a wage/withholding mismatch which will freeze your refund. The IRS won't know if it was really you who filed the form or someone who managed to get one of your W-2's and is pretending to be you to steal your refund.
Since it was accepted for e-filing the only way to make adjustments to your return now is to file an amended return to add the second W2. Typically you would be able to do this through the same company you filed through.
An IRS notice may alert you to a mistake on your tax return or that it's being audited. You can verify the information that was processed by the IRS by viewing a transcript of the return to compare it to the return you may have signed or approved. You can access your tax records through your account.
Every W-2 is reported to the IRS, by the employer, so you must report all of your W-2's on your tax return. Under-reporting your income is a big no no.
If you work with a tax preparation professional (such as an accountant), they may be able to retrieve your W-2 transcript on your behalf. Many tax professionals have IRS-authorized online accounts, allowing them to access records more efficiently.
You know the IRS might be investigating you through official mail (first contact), phone calls (often with automated messages to IRS.gov), or in-person visits, but signs of a criminal probe include contact with IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) agents, subpoenas to you or your bank, questions to your accountant/bank, unusual account activity (freezing/refusing transactions), or agents suddenly going silent after an audit. Key indicators are official IRS letters, contact from CI special agents, third-party inquiries, and formal summonses for records, signaling serious scrutiny beyond a simple audit.
The IRS 7-year rule primarily applies to keeping records for claiming a deduction for bad debts or losses from worthless securities, allowing a longer period to file for a credit or refund, but it's not a universal audit limit; it's often a recommended safe buffer for general record-keeping, with the standard IRS audit period usually being 3 years, extending to 6 years for substantial income omission (over 25%) or foreign income issues, and indefinitely for fraud.
Not reporting all of your income is an easy-to-avoid red flag that can lead to an audit. Taking excessive business tax deductions and mixing business and personal expenses can lead to an audit. The IRS mostly audits tax returns of those earning more than $200,000 and corporations with more than $10 million in assets.
The IRS does not check every tax return. It does not check the majority of them, but the IRS implements methods that track certain factors that would result in a further examination or audit by them.
A Reminder of Seven Things the IRS Will Never Do: