How to Get Your W-2 From a Former Employer (or If Your W-2 Is Missing)
Left a job during the year? Your former employer still has to send you a W-2 for the wages they paid you. Here’s how to track it down, step by step, and what to do if it never arrives.
Quick Checklist
| 1. Check online | Sign in to the payroll portal you used at that job |
| 2. Check your mail | 2026 W-2s are due by February 1, 2027 |
| 3. Contact the employer | HR or payroll, and confirm your current address |
| 4. Call the IRS | 800-829-1040, if it’s still missing at the end of February |
| 5. Last resort | File with Form 4852 (substitute W-2) |
Step 1: Try Your Old Payroll Login
Many companies let former employees keep signing in for a while, and some keep access open for good. Try the site you used to view pay stubs:
- ADP: ADP says former employees can try signing in, but employers often remove old accounts. See how to get your W-2 from ADP.
- Gusto: Gusto says people paid through Gusto keep access to their pay records and tax documents after they leave.
- Paychex Flex, Paycom, Paylocity, Paycor, UKG Pro, Workday and Dayforce: access after you leave depends on your former employer’s settings.
- H-E-B: former partners get W-2s at mytaxform.com with employer code 13054.
Step 2: Contact Your Former Employer
If you can’t sign in, contact the company’s HR or payroll department directly. Payroll providers like ADP and Paycom can’t send W-2s to you themselves. ADP says “only your employer or former employer can assist you with your W-2.”
- Ask for a copy of your W-2 for the right tax year.
- Confirm the mailing address they have for you, and give them your new one if you’ve moved.
- If the W-2 has a mistake, ask for a corrected one (Form W-2c).
Step 3: Call the IRS After the End of February
If you still don’t have your W-2 by the end of February, the IRS can help. Call 800-829-1040 and have this ready:
- Your name, address, phone number, Social Security number and dates of employment
- Your employer’s name, address and phone number (and their EIN, if you know it, which is on old W-2s)
The IRS will contact the employer and send you Form 4852 with instructions. Source: IRS Topic No. 154.
Step 4: File on Time With Form 4852
Don’t miss the filing deadline waiting for a W-2. The IRS says to file on time even if a form is missing. Use Form 4852 to estimate your wages and the tax withheld. Your final pay stub is usually the best source for these numbers.
If the real W-2 arrives later with different amounts, file an amended return using Form 1040-X.
Need a W-2 From a Past Year?
For older years, you can get your W-2 information from the IRS or the Social Security Administration. See how to get copies of old W-2s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my former employer have to send me a W-2?
Yes. Any employer that paid you wages during the year must give you a W-2, even if you’ve left.
Can ADP or another payroll company send me my W-2?
Usually not directly. They work for your employer, so contact your former employer’s HR or payroll team.
What if my old employer went out of business?
Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 after the end of February. You can also use Form 4852 with numbers from your final pay stub.
Conclusion
Try your old payroll login first, then contact your former employer’s HR or payroll team. If you still have nothing by the end of February, call the IRS and use Form 4852 so you can file on time.
LoginSteps is an independent guide, not a tax advisor. For advice about your own situation, talk to a tax professional or see IRS.gov. Read our disclaimer.
