How many copies of w2 should employee get

Remember that your tax return is still due by the tax-filing deadline , so if you don't have your W-2, you might need to estimate your earnings and withholdings to get it done on time. Go here to learn more about getting an extension. The IRS might delay processing your return — read: refund — while it tries to verify your information. If your W-2 finally shows up after you already filed your tax return, you might need to go back and amend your tax return.

That means you may be able to get yours online. Even if you quit your job months ago, your ex-employer can still wait until Jan. Our list of IRS customer service phone numbers might get you help faster. Your Form W-2 tells you how much you earned from your employer in the past year and how much withholding tax you've already paid on those earnings.

Is it easy to use? Free version? You use the W-2 to file your tax return. Form W-2 shows more than just what you were paid. It also details how much you contributed to your retirement plan during the year, how much your employer paid for your health insurance, or even what you received in dependent care benefits.

All of that data affects your tax picture — your retirement contributions might not be taxable , for example. Box 1: Details how much you were paid in wages, tips and other compensation.

Box 2: Shows how much federal income tax was withheld from your pay. Box 3: Shows much of your pay in Box 1 was subject to Social Security tax. Box 4: Shows how much Social Security tax was withheld from your pay. Box 5: Shows much of your pay in Box 1 was subject to Medicare tax. If an employee quits at any time before December 31 of the current tax year, you may provide the required W-2 copies to the employee at any time after the worker's last day, but no later than the Jan.

You also must provide copies of the W-2 within 30 days of termination or final wage payment, whichever is the latter date, if the employee makes a request for the copies of the W-2 upon termination. This requires accurate completion of the W-2 form boxes 15 through The IRS requires that employers only use the Social Security number of an employee for use in filing the W-2s each year.

Ensure that the reported SSN for each worker is correct. The U. Citizenship and Immigration Services provides electronic access for employers who sign up to verify employee's Social Security Numbers through its E-Verify program. Any returned or undeliverable employee copies of Form W-2s must be kept for four years after an attempt at delivery. Independent contractors count as statutory employees in certain situations, including when a full-time salesperson mainly works for one company.

Any other deductions that have been left out can be written in box Examples include tuition assistance and union dues. Write your state and employer state ID number in box 15 if your state requires you to do so.

All of the income eligible for local taxation must be placed in Box The amount of local taxes that have been withheld goes in box Finally, box 20 is for the specific name of the place that the local taxes are tied to. Employers typically send out W-2 forms through the mail.

As mentioned above, the law requires employers to send your W-2 by the end of January. It may take up to a couple of days after that deadline for forms to appear online. You can get a copy of your W-2 straight from the IRS. You might also want to consider asking for an extension if you cannot get all of your necessary forms by the end of February.

If you happen to receive your W-2 later on and the information on it differs from the estimates you made on Form , you can complete an additional form X so that your tax return is accurate.