Yes, you absolutely can still file your taxes even without the W2 Form. But, before you resort to filing your taxes without it, you must first find out if there are other ways to obtain your W2. If you are not yet sure how to do it, read further for more information.
Ways to Obtain Your Form W2
Employers are obliged to send a copy of this form to their employees. However, for several reasons, there are times when employees don’t get to receive this form.
Other Ways to Obtain Your W2
If tax season is just around the corner and you still did not receive the W-2 form, call your employer right away. If the company you are working for has an online Human Resources portal for payrolls, try to check it out if it’s there ready for you to be printed out. You can also go to the IRS and tell them that you do not have a copy of your W2 form. The IRS will then try to contact your employer and remind him of his obligation to send you a copy of the W-2 Form.
You can also turn to IRS for help if your employer has already shut down his business and there is no way for you to contact them. On the other hand, if you are an employer who needs to generate a W2 for an employee, you can make the process less complicated by checking out the online websites that help you generate W2 with much precision but yet less hassle. Remember that you don’t have to do everything manually.
Filing Taxes is Possible even Without the Form W2
There are two ways to file your taxes even when you don’t have the W2. The first one is to use Form 4852. Second, for those individuals who are positive that their W2 will be received later than the tax filing due date, they may request for Tax Extension.
Use Form 4852 to File Your Taxes if You Can’t Obtain Your W2
You can still file your taxes even without your W-2. You can do this by using Form 4852. This form serves as a substitute for the Form W2. You will fill this with information such as the wages you earned, the name of the employer and the amount withheld for your federal taxes. Collate your pay stubs to record how much you have earned for the taxable year. It is important that you file this Form 4852 before the tax deadline. If you will be waiting for your W2, you still need to submit this Form 4852 before the deadline.
You may ask for help from an accountant should you need to amend anything on your tax statement in the event that the W2 will come later than the tax filing deadline.
Request for Tax Extension if Your W2 Cannot Be Obtained Before the Deadline
If you did not receive your W2 or you do not have your pay stubs, which will also make it difficult for you to fill out a Form 4852, you can ask for a Tax Extension. This will give you an ample amount of time to gather all the necessary documents you need for tax filing. This tax extension will serve as your kosher option while you are waiting for your W2 form.
In order to file for a tax extension, you will use Form 4868. This is the Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File form which can be used by U.S. individuals who are filing their income tax return. You can download this from the IRS website.
Note that even if you filed for a tax extension you are still required to pay the same amount of taxes that you owe if you filed your tax on or before the deadline. With the file extension request, you will be given more time to complete the documents needed for a more accurate filing. However, for individuals who need to pay federal income tax, they have to file on or before the due date.
To reiterate, filing your taxes is still possible even without the form W2. Use the form 4852, which is the substitute of form W2. Make sure to do everything according to what’s mandated by the IRS.
