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W2 deadline for an employer – any idea?

Submitted by unclewulf on Wed, 01/30/2008 - 15:41
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What's the official W2 deadline for an employer to get form W2 to an employee? Anybody know for certain?


W2 deadline

Employers and payers have until 1/31/08 to give out W2's and 1099's/1098's to the recipients.

They have until 2/28/08 to file Copy A of those forms with the government.


Submitted by Roadwarrior on Wed, 01/30/2008 - 16:36

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A nosey know it all at work told me that our boss has until the 15th of Feb to hand out W2's is this true because I have always been told its the 31 of Jan?


Submitted by on Sun, 01/25/2009 - 21:21

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Baby, no.. as others have stated it's a federal law that they have to be post marked by the 31st of January.

I'm still waiting on mine. Last year it came early, this year will probably come right on the 31st.


Submitted by beli2005 on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 04:17

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DebtCruncher, Not doubting you.. someone else mentioned that too on another form.. though I don't see why. We DO get mail on Saturday. Though if they're going the business days (m-F) then it does make sense, in a way.


Submitted by beli2005 on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 06:14

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Granted, we do get mail on a Saturday. I'm going by the actual instructions that you can download from IRS.gov. Those instruction for form W2 and 1099 say in 2008 that the forms must be post-marked by 2/2/09.


Submitted by DebtCruncher on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 22:21

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On the WikiAnswer site it's stated that the deadline for employers to mail out copies of the W2 to employees is 2-1-09. Hope this helps. I just had to check it out myself...lol


Submitted by on Fri, 01/30/2009 - 04:20

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Not sure exactly what a recipient can do, other than maybe complain to the IRS....

Just like the employers have to mail a copy to you, they also have to send in copies and a W3 to the IRS. Although the IRS gives them until March 2 I believe, to get those copies in. BUT the IRS charges something like $50 per W2 that is filed late. So you can imagine, if a company has 100 employees and files all those W2s late, that's a $5000 penalty they have to pay.


Submitted by DebtCruncher on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 09:59

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Before calling the IRS, I would advise giving the mail a reasonable amount of time for it to get to you. If your employer gets it in the mail and postmarked on the last day possible, don't call the IRS if it's not there the next business day. But if it's been a week after the deadline and you still don't have it, then yes, I would give them a call.
Remember, they are probably sending it bulk rate, since they are sending everyone in the company's out at the same time.
Remember: they don't have to HAVE it to you by that deadline, all they need to do is have MAILED it to you.


Submitted by kscornell on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 11:26

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I wonder this.......

"Metered" mail doesn't actually get post-marked by the post office. We have a mail-meter at my work. What would pre-empt me from running a whole bunch of blank envelopes thru the mail meter on 1/31 (or 2/2 or whatever the deadline is) to get that date stamped; and then actually stuff the envelopes and mail them whenever I feel like it?

Technically the post office is not supposed to accept metered mail if it has a different date than the day you drop it off. But I can tell you my post office never checks the dates.


Submitted by DebtCruncher on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 11:56

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today is the 31st and i haven't received my w2. is it really true about 2-2-09. i will give it until Tuesday this web site was very helpful


Submitted by on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 12:42

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Does Employer have to mail w-2 to all employees present and past if so by when


Submitted by on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 12:51

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is it a law an employer has to mail out w-2s


Submitted by on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 13:01

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Guest #1 & 2, as kscornell said and as I posted above, they have to be "in the mail" by 02/02/09. That doesn't necessarily mean you will have it by 2/2, just it should be mailed by then.

Guest #2 - the employer has to send W2's to any employee whom it paid wages (and tax was withheld) during the previous year. That would include a "past" employee if they were paid anytime during 2008.

Guest #3 - the employer doesn't necessarily have to mail them. They could hand them out to you, staple it to your paycheck, leave it on your desk, etc. As long as they get it to you or mail it by 2/2/09. (Although I would argue if they are going to staple to your check or leave on your desk, they should make sure you are scheduled to work on or prior to 2/2/09 so they know you get it, otherwise they should mail it).


Submitted by DebtCruncher on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 13:10

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And to add to that, if you leave an employer for any reason during the year, you can ask that your W-2 be processed and given to you at that time. You don't have to wait till the following January to get it.
Also wanted to throw in that one thing my employer does that's nice is also make our W-2's available online, along with mailing them. It's something I really appreciate--and wonder if there are other employers out there who do the same thing.


Submitted by kscornell on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 15:44

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its already the 1st and I still didnt get mine. everybody at my house got theirs except me. everyone's done filing their tax except me again. im the only one in my family that havent got it. worries me. at same time its ok because everybody at my work are asking about it too. none of us got our w2s yet. hopefully i'll get it sumtym soon;)


Submitted by hsanidad08 on Mon, 02/02/2009 - 00:32

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I question all these dates. I always heard 1/31, but I guess it makes sense that it is a Sunday this year. It is frustrating for people that have significant money coming back and cannot even file because companies don't give us the proper paperwork. !!


Submitted by on Mon, 02/02/2009 - 06:50

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today is 02-04-09 and im very upset about not having my tax form w-2 in the mail box yet. i will report this today if i do not receive it. i have heard conflicting reports of the deadline date but, my CPA told me yesterday the deadline WAS jan 31st!!!!


Submitted by on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 08:13

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my employer told me i cant get mine until friday the 6th should i report them because i sure feel like it,we get paid minimum wage they can at least have our w2s on time


Submitted by on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 16:24

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havent go them yet


Submitted by on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 08:02

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Well how do i report my X employer! Today is the 6th.. No w2.. I called my old employer and they said they sent them a week ago.. I keep checking the mail and nothing.. I have a new baby and i really need my W2.. asap.. so how do i report him..


Submitted by on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 12:19

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Yes I made sure they had my correct address.. and i just called the Irs and u cant report them til the 15th.. wich is fine..Im just a little upset.. I worked very hard for this company for 10 years.. I went on maternity leave and had no job to go back to. Im a single parent and its been very difficult! If i dont get it bye monday im gonna call my old employer and request a another one!


Submitted by on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 12:29

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my employer had to remind his bookkeeper to mail out the w2 forms this is 2/12 and I still haven't received mine. what kind of fine will my employer get if he doesn't get them out?


Submitted by on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 07:09

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my previous employer still hasnt sent me my W2, so i took my last pay stub to HR BLOCK, they said that if i dont have it by FEB 15th then they'll make me a substitute form...so that's the deal everyone


Submitted by on Fri, 02/13/2009 - 10:50

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i haveent received


Submitted by on Fri, 02/13/2009 - 11:31

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By now, you should've gotten it. If you report them to the IRS and they have to ask your employer for it, they will be fined. I forget the amount, but I know for a fact they are facing a fine. The deadline for your employer to have mailed it to you is 1/31--although I hear that this year, it was 2/2, due to 1/31 being on a weekend.


Submitted by kscornell on Fri, 02/13/2009 - 17:23

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They are REQUIRED to issue you a W2. They can't avoid it! They have to do this to at least document to Social Security how much they took out on you for the prior year.
Many companies that go out of business at least set up a deal with an accountant or a payroll service to take care of these matters--so I would call the IRS first thing on Tuesday with this information.


Submitted by kscornell on Sat, 02/14/2009 - 07:36

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I know when i worked for the resturant,the way we got paid was 1-15th of the month we got paid on the 20th. 16th-31st got paid on the 5th. so when it was w-2 time, we would get a stack of the last year employees. ones that werent still employed needed to be mailed by 31st. ones that were recieved thiers on payday with thier check on the 5th.

I know we recieved many back though because of incorrect adresses, or they moved, or could not be located. they would get returned to the resturant, and eventually they would pick them up, or we had to send them back to the home office after a long period of time. so I know that is a big problem. incorrect information.


Submitted by love_my_things on Sat, 02/14/2009 - 07:48

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That's correct, love my things. Incorrect information can be a real problem--and it's our responsibility as employees to make sure that our employer has correct information when it comes time to mail these out. All they have to show is that they mailed it to the most current address they have on record--and if it's wrong, that's on us if it wasn't provided.


Submitted by kscornell on Sat, 02/14/2009 - 10:14

kscornell

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THERE IS NO SUCH LAW IF THERE IS NO RECOURSE BUT TO COMPLAIN AND A $50 FINE.TYPICAL JACKASS LEGISLATION


Submitted by on Thu, 04/16/2009 - 19:28

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Definately contact your employer, because it could easily be lost in the mail. But if it's two weeks later and you still haven't received it, then I would notify the IRS. If they have to ask the company for it, the company will definately be fined.
Remember: if you leave a company during the year, you can ask for your W-2 immediately. You don't have to wait till the following year.


Submitted by kscornell on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 19:52

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Jan 31st


Submitted by on Thu, 02/18/2010 - 13:43

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