St. Patrick’s Day has passed, soon it will be Memorial Day, and it’s time to think of … Taxes?! Yes, I’m afraid so. The spring tax season is here, whether we want to admit it or not.
Even if you plan to file an extension for your taxes, now is a great time to make sure that you have a W-2 from every employer that you worked for in 2006. By law, each and every employer must furnish a W-2 form to every employee, no later than January 31 of 2007. The 2007 W-2 for will show wages and deductions, including federal taxes paid, for 2006.
What if you haven’t received a W-2 form from an employer? According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, you should contact the employer immediately. They are usually delighted to issue a second W-2 form if you request.
The most common reason why W-2s are not received is because the employee is moved. Usually, when the employer issues a duplicate, they will verify or update the address.
If you have requested a duplicate W-2 form and haven’t received it after 2 weeks, it’s time to get tough. In years past, the IRS tolerated employers who did not deliver W-2s in a timely fashion. They are much more strict since 2004. If you requested a duplicate W-2 two weeks ago, and you still don’t have one, contact your local IRS office. They will intervene with the employer on your behalf and trust me, you will receive that W-2.
By the way, independent contractors don’t receive a W-2 form. Instead, they should have received a 1099 form by January 31. Again, if repeated attempts don’t result in you receiving a 1099, contact the IRS.
What if you never receive the W-2 form? Again, the IRS is becoming much stricter on this issue. In the past, you could simply file your federal tax return with your final pay stub from the year. Now, if the W-2 is missing, the IRS will require that you complete a special form and submit it with your taxes. They will not accept a tax return that doesn’t include the form.
