| January and early February represent a period of | | | | be a bit obvious - contact your employer. Sending out |
| what is known as information return filings in the tax | | | | W-2s is usually an automated task. The fact you |
| field. Put in more understandable terms, this is the time | | | | haven't received one usually just means an error |
| when forms like the W-2 are filed. So, what do you do | | | | occurred such as you didn't update your address or |
| if you don't receive a W-2? Let's take a look. | | | | whatever. The employer will almost always give you |
| What is a W-2? It is the form designated by the IRS | | | | another copy. |
| for your employer to report information on your | | | | What if this doesn't solve things? I can't imagine an |
| earnings such as wages, taxes withheld, money put | | | | employer would refuse to issue a W-2, but a lot of |
| into retirement accounts and so on. The employer | | | | businesses failed in 2009. If there is no business, there |
| must serve you with a copy before the end of | | | | is certainly going to be no W-2 forms issued. In such a |
| January and then must file a copy with the IRS a | | | | situation, you simply have to report the earnings on |
| month or so later on. The IRS then uses the form to | | | | your 1040 tax return. You can get the figures by |
| cross check information that you report on personal | | | | adding up the numbers reported on each of your |
| tax returns filed for the year. | | | | paychecks. If that doesn't work, you will need to use a |
| So, what do you do if it is the middle of February or | | | | best estimate of the amount you earned and paid for |
| later and nothing has come? Well, the first step should | | | | the year. |