Not having a vital piece of financial documentation can be frustrating. Many people wonder how they can find their W2 history for loan applications, tax season, or other forms of financial disclosure. To help, we’ve created this quick guide to tracking down your IRS W2 history.
How do I get past W2 forms?
The easiest way to get your hands on a past W2 is by contacting your previous employer (or employers) from the years you need. Since you get your W2 from your employer to start with, they should have records.
Where you may run into some trouble is that employers are only required to keep W2 records for a short period of time.
According to Chron.com, “When it comes to the employer obligation to provide old W-2 forms, the IRS advises employers to keep all employment tax records for at least four years. Further, employers should be prepared to make the records available for review by the agency upon request.”
Can I get my W2 from the IRS?
In some cases, if you can’t get a copy of your W2 from a previous employer, or a previous year from your current employer, you can get a copy of your W2 from the IRS. According to the IRS website, you can get a copy of your W2 only if the original was attached to your tax return.
The IRS says “If you can't get your Form W-2 from your employer and you previously attached it to your paper tax return, you can order a copy of the entire return from the IRS for a fee.” It’s worth noting that this process can take 75 days or more to complete.
Is my W2 history available online?
Generally speaking, your W2 history is not available online. The exception to this is if your employer stores them in a payroll system or if the employer works with QuickConfirm. Employers who work with QuickConfirm can send us a PDF of your W2 which we will securely store for up to 10 years. You can then access your W2 information in the employee portal at QuickConfirm.
So, whether you need your W2 or work history, QuickConfirm has you covered. If you don’t already have access to QuickConfirm’s work history and salary history benefits, contact your employer or HR department and ask them to get in touch.