Ready to file but missing a W-2? Follow these steps.

Are you ready to file your tax return? Employers have until February 1, 2010 to send you a 2009 Form W-2 earnings statement.  If you have not received one or more of your W-2s, you can follow theses steps.


Contact Your Employer

If you have not received your W-2, contact your employer to inquire if and when the W-2 was mailed. If it was mailed, it may have been returned to the employer because of an incorrect or incomplete address. After contacting the employer, allow a reasonable amount of time for them to resend or to issue the W-2.

Contact the IRS

If you do not receive your W-2 by February 16th, contact the IRS for assistance at 800-829-1040. When you call, you must provide your name, address, city and state, including zip code, Social Security number, phone number and have the following information:

*Employer’s name, address, city and state, including zip code and phone number
*Dates of employment
*An estimate of the wages you earned, the federal income tax withheld, and when you worked for that employer during 2009. The estimate should be based on year-to-date information from your final pay stub or leave-and-earnings statement, if possible.

File Your Return

You still must file your tax return or request an extension to file by April 15, even if you do not receive your Form W-2. If you have not received your Form W-2 by April 15th, and have completed steps 1 and 2, you may use Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. Attach Form 4852 to the return, estimating income and withholding taxes as accurately as possible. There may be a delay in any refund due while the information is verified.

File a Form 1040X

On occasion, you may receive your missing W-2 after you filed your return using Form 4852, and the information may be different from what you reported on your return. If this happens, you must amend your return by filing a Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.  Keep in mind, most tax professionals charge for an ammened return whereas most tax professionals dont charge for an extension to file.

Form 4852, Form 1040X, and instructions are available on the IRS Web site, IRS.gov or you can contact your local CPA.

David C Egan, CPA
(718)227-6035