Can I get copies of my prior year Forms W-2 from the IRS
Q) Can I get copies of my prior year Forms W-2 from the IRS
A) According to the IRS: The quickest way to obtain a copy of a prior year Form W-2 is through your employer. If that is not possible:
- You can order copies of your entire return (attachments include Form W-2) from the IRS for a fee, or
- Order Form W-2 information at no charge from the IRS as part of a transcript.
- The IRS can provide Form W-2 information for up to 10 years.
- Complete information for the current year is generally not available until the year after it is filed with the IRS. For example, Form W-2 information for 2012, filed in 2013, may not be available from the IRS until 2014.
To receive a copy of your return, complete and mail Form 4506 (PDF), Request for Copy of Tax Return, along with the required fee.
To receive a tax return transcript, including your Form W-2 information, complete and mail or fax Form 4506-T (PDF), Request for Transcript of Tax Return. You may also order a transcript online by going to the Get Transcript page, or by calling 800-908-9946.
You can expect to get a transcript, including Form W-2 information, within 5 to 10 days from the time we receive your request. If you request a copy of your entire tax return, including Form W-2, you should allow 60 calendar days to receive your copies.
Because the IRS processes the first return it receives, if another person claims your dependent first, the IRS will reject your return. The IRS won’t tell you who claimed your dependent. But if you don’t suspect anyone who could have claimed the dependent, your dependent may be a victim of tax identity theft. You’ll need to take some steps to protect your right to claim the dependent and your refund if you don’t think that the other person was eligible to claim your dependent. First, double check that you meet all of the requirements to claim the dependent.
The IRS may delay your refund while the IRS looks into the issue, but you should still receive your refund. File a paper return. Note that when you file a paper return, it can take six to eight weeks for the IRS to process. This includes things like birth certificates and proof of identity, but also documents that show that your dependent lived with you at the same address for more than half of the year. This doesn’t mean that you can’t correct the situation. Don’t panic. The most important thing to remember is to prove with proper documentation that you are entitled to claim the dependent. Document your case as the IRS rules for claiming a dependent can get complicated.