Are You Missing a W-2?
Article Highlights:
- Missing W-2
- Contact the Office
- Contact the Employer
- Contact the IRS
- Prepare a Substitute W-2
- File on Time or Get an Extension
- W-2 Withholding
1. Contact This Office - Let this office know that you are missing a W-2. If your appointment is in the near future, we will advise you whether to keep the appointment or change it to another time. Generally, when a W-2 or 1099 is missing, it is best to keep the appointment so that everything else for the return can be completed. You can then mail the missing document to the office or drop it off at a later date. That way, your return can be finished as soon as the missing form becomes available, which will speed up your refund, if you are receiving one.
2. Contact Your Employer - Contact your employer to inquire about if and when the W-2 was mailed. It could be that the employer, especially a former employer, may not have your current address. After contacting the employer, allow a reasonable amount of time for the employer to resend or reissue the W-2. However, if the employer does not respond to your request or has gone out of business, you have two options:
- Your name, address (including ZIP code), phone number, taxpayer identification number (a Social Security number for most people), and dates of employment
- Your employer/payer's name, address (including ZIP code), and phone number
- If known, your employer/payer's identification number (EIN). If you worked for the same employer in a prior year, the EIN will be on your copy of the W-2 for that year. The IRS will contact the employer/payer for you and request the missing or corrected form.
- Your identification number and dates of employment,
- Your employer/payer's name, address (including ZIP code), and phone number
- If known, your employer/payer's identification number (EIN). If you worked for the same employer in the prior year, the EIN will be on that W-2.
- Wages, tips, and other compensation you received during the year
- Social security wages
- Medicare wages and tips
- Social security tips
- Federal income tax withheld
- State income tax withheld
- Local income tax withheld
- Social security tax withheld
- Medicare tax withheld
Regardless of the option you choose, you will still have to file your tax return by the April due date or file for a six-month extension. Be aware that if you plan on making an IRA contribution and have not already done so, the extension will not extend the time available to make a contribution. IRA contributions must be made by the April due date of your return.
Even if you don’t receive a W-2, you are still required to file your tax return or request a filing extension by the April due date.
B. If you don’t anticipate receiving the missing W-2, then this office can prepare a substitute W-2, enabling you to file your tax return in a timely manner.
If the reason you have not received a W-2 is because the employer never filed one or failed to remit the money that was withheld from your wages, don’t be concerned. The government is responsible for collecting those funds and will credit you for them, whether it received them or not.
Please call this office if you have questions or need tax-preparation assistance.
Want tax & accounting tips and insights?
Sign up for our newsletter.
“Bernard and his team at BR tax group are top notch. This is my first year using them after switching from a different local CPA and I didn't realize how much tax info I've been missing. His communication is great. The additional information he provides to maximize tax savings is something I didn't get from my previous CPA. Thanks Bernard”
Frequently Asked Questions
-
You can prepare your taxes yourself, especially if your business is simple.
But once you have contractors, employees, business loans, equipment purchases, mileage, mixed expenses, or growing revenue, things get more complex. At that point, tax preparation becomes a way to make sure your business is reported correctly, your deductions are handled properly, and your records can support what you file.
-
Send anything that shows what your business earned, spent, bought, paid, borrowed, or changed during the year.
That usually means your income records, bank statements, credit card statements, payroll reports, contractor payments, loan documents, mileage records, and prior-year tax return. Also tell me about anything unusual, such as buying a vehicle, hiring someone, opening a new location, or taking out a business loan.
-
Messy books can slow things down. If expenses are in the wrong categories, transactions are missing, or personal and business spending are mixed together, your tax return may not show the right profit. We may need to clean things up before filing, so your return is accurate and easier to support.
-
Possibly, if it was truly for your business and you have proof.
Still, it is much better to avoid this when you can. A separate business bank account and business credit card make everything cleaner. They save time, reduce confusion, and make your records much easier to defend if anyone ever asks questions.
-
Most small business owners can deduct ordinary business expenses like software, advertising, supplies, insurance, rent, payroll, contractor payments, professional fees, travel, and some vehicle costs.
The question I usually ask is simple. Was this expense clearly for the business? If yes, we can look at how it should be handled. Personal expenses should stay personal.
Our Offices
Georgetown
Austin - Arboretum
Austin Downtown
Let's Get Started
Our services are designed specifically for business start-ups, entrepreneurs and small businesses of all sizes. Let’s start the conversation.
Site managed by http://www.webstrategyboost.com/