How to Get Copies of Old W-2s From Past Years (IRS & Social Security)
Need a W-2 from a year or more ago, for a loan, an amended return or a lost document? You have three main options, and one of them is free and fast.
Your Options at a Glance
| Your employer or payroll portal | Free. Best if you still have access or the company is still around |
| IRS wage and income transcript | Free. W-2 data for the current and nine prior tax years |
| Social Security (SSA) W-2 copy | Copies from 1978 onward. Free for some purposes, otherwise a fee |
Option 1: Ask Your Employer or Check Your Payroll Portal
Many payroll portals keep several years of W-2s. Try signing in first (see our guides for ADP, Gusto, Paychex Flex and more). If you can’t get in, ask the employer’s HR or payroll team for a copy.
Option 2: IRS Wage and Income Transcript (Free)
A wage and income transcript shows the information from W-2s (and 1099s and other forms) that employers sent to the IRS. It isn’t a copy of the W-2 itself, but it has the numbers you usually need.
- Years covered: the current year and nine prior tax years
- When: the most recent year’s data usually appears from early February
- Privacy: personal details are partly masked, but the dollar amounts are fully visible
How to get it:
- Online (fastest): sign in to your IRS Individual Online Account and view, print or download the transcript.
- By mail: submit Form 4506-T. Transcripts ordered by mail go to the address the IRS has on file.
Note: Only use irs.gov. The IRS doesn’t charge for transcripts, so a site asking you to pay for your “IRS transcript” is not the IRS.
Option 3: W-2 Copy From Social Security
The Social Security Administration can send copies of W-2s for any year from 1978 to the present.
- Free when you need it for a Social Security-related purpose
- Fee ($62 per request) for other purposes. If you don’t give a reason, SSA assumes it isn’t Social Security-related.
Send a written request with your SSN, the name on your Social Security card (and any other name shown on the W-2), your mailing address, the year(s) you need, a daytime phone number and your reason. Details and the mailing address are on SSA’s W-2 copies page.
Need Your Whole Tax Return Instead?
If you need a copy of a full past tax return (with the W-2s you attached), use IRS Form 4506. It costs a fee and takes longer. For most purposes, like loans or amended returns, the free transcript is enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a wage and income transcript the same as a W-2?
Not exactly. It’s an IRS summary of your W-2 data. It has the wages and withholding amounts, but it isn’t the form itself. Many lenders and tax preparers accept it.
How far back can I get W-2 information?
IRS transcripts cover the current year plus nine prior years. SSA copies go back to 1978.
Does the transcript include state tax information?
SSA notes that state and local information isn’t available from the IRS if you e-filed your return. For state details, contact the employer or your state tax agency.
Conclusion
Try your employer or payroll portal first. For W-2 numbers from recent years, get a free IRS wage and income transcript. For official copies going back further, request them from Social Security.
Related: When will I get my W-2? · W-2 from a former employer
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.
