What can GA residents do if their W-2 is lost or incorrect? Follow these instructions
There’s nothing worse than realizing you lost a super important document, especially if that document is your W-2.
But don’t fret. If you think you lost your W-2 or even if you think the information on it is wrong, there’s something you can do about it.
What if I lost my W-2?
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) here’s what you should do if you lost your W-2:
Call the IRS at 800-829-1040.
Have the following information ready:
Name, address and phone number
Social Security or individual tax ID number
Dates when you worked for the employer
Employer’s name, address and phone number
After you have spoken with a representative, they will contact your employer to request another W-2 form. The IRS will also send you a copy of Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement (Form 4852), which you can use to file your taxes.
What if the information on my W-2 is incorrect?
Similarly, if your W-2 has incorrect information on it, here’s what you can do:
The IRS recommends asking your employer to correct the error. If your employer doesn’t correct it by the end of February, you should either:
Call the IRS at 800-829-1040
Make an appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center
Then the IRS will send your employer a letter asking them to give you a corrected W-2 within 10 days.
In the meantime, you can estimate your earnings and fill out the Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement (Form 4852).
Do you have more questions about tax season? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com.
This story was originally published February 6, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "What can GA residents do if their W-2 is lost or incorrect? Follow these instructions."
