No W-2

I blogged about it last year but I am getting new comments and lots of phone calls at the office, so I will repeat.

If you do not get a W-2, it is your responsibility to make sure that those wages are reported on your return. Remember, you are signing that return is complete and accurate. If you still are missing a W-2, contact the employer about a replacement. If that does not work, you can use form 4852, or Substitute W-2, to document your wages and file your return. You can use check stubs or other info to recreate what would have been on the W-2. You will also need to provide as much employer information as possible and describe what you did to get your W-2. This is signed and attached like a W-2 to a mailed in return. If you have complete employer info, you may be able to e-file the return. Either way, expect the return to take longer to process.

What happens if you leave it off your return? In a few months, the IRS will match the W-2 info that employers send in and what is reported on your return. If they don't match, you will get a letter asking for the tax on the money not reported and interest and penalty on that tax.