The Peck Group LC
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Free 30 minute telephone consultation
Comprehensive Tax Law Representation Since 1995
We handle every aspect of tax law: preparing tax returns, representing clients during audits, resolving IRS and state tax controversies, and creating tax planning strategies for the future.

What if an employee loses their W-2?

On Behalf of | Feb 11, 2016 | IRS |

Many taxpayers in Georgia look forward to receiving their annual W-2 form from their employer. The W-2 form — officially, the Internal Revenue Service’s Wage and Tax Statement — lists an employee’s wages for the year as well as some other key figures, including federal income tax withholding. In order to file taxes with the IRS – and, in many cases, receive their tax refunds — workers need the information from their W-2 from their employers.

However, human error sometimes gets in the way of the process. Employers are required to provide their employees with W-2 forms by the end of January, so that people can get started on their tax returns due two and a half months later. Sometimes employees lose those forms, or might inadvertently discard them, and this puts those employees under the gun to get a replacement form in time to file before April 15.

According to the IRS, employers may furnish a replacement W-2 and mark it as a reissued statement. The reissued form shouldn’t be filed with the SSA, the Social Security Administration.

If employees need a replacement W-2 from their employer, they should make the request in writing and include:

  • The employee’s name and signature
  • The address the form should be sent to
  • The date the request was made

Employers who reissue a W-2 are entitled to charge a fee for creating and distributing the replacement form.

The more complicated the tax problems, the more important it is to seek experienced legal advice regarding those problems.

We insist that your taxpayer rights are protected and your options are known.

Our services are confidential and are protected under the attorney-client privilege as allowed by law.