What to do about missing W-2's?

[Momto2Boyz]

The company that DH worked for for the last 7 years is gone. He worked about 3 weeks in January for them, then got laid off. They ended up completely closing the company over the summer.

Well, the owner & his wife split up, they both moved and niether have the same cell phones anymore. We have no way to get in touch with them and we haven't received a W-2, and we are pretty sure that we won't.

I don't want to get screwed later if we get audited, (knock on wood...that that never happens), so I don't want to do the taxes without them. But I am having trouble locating DH's last paycheck from this company. I keep all the paystubs together in a file folder. And I know DH specifically kept his last paycheck from this company and wrote..."last check" on it, so he would know it was the last one, in the event that something like this would happen!

I'm going to keep looking for it (I'm almost wondering if I put it into our tax file), but what do I do if I can't find it and we don't get a W-2? Anyone have advice for me? I have done our taxes every year with Turbo Tax, and it's a cakewalk, so I'd hate to have to hire a tax professional, and pay them out the ying yang, just to answer this question and combat the problem!

[Spikey1341]

Call your local IRS office and ask them what to do.

[Milly]

I don't know about Illinois, but here in Indiana you call call the Indiana State IRS and have them send you a copy. Here, we'd just call the office in Indianapolis, get the run-around for a while, and eventually reach somebody who could dredge it up from their files and send it off. They DO have the information, after all, since they check our returns against it.

IF no one there can find it, it is possible that the company your DH worked for never filed it. If you didn't get a copy, it's possible they didn't file. In this case, the IRS will track them down for you and force a copy out of them.

In any case, it's not that difficult to file an amemded return later, assuming the info shows up. If you have called your state IRS and made a "good faith" effort to track the W-2 down, you won't get any grief for it.

In any case, be SURE to file before April 15th, whether the return is complete or not. Amended is ALWAYS better than late.

Guess what I used to do for a living?

[xtena]

Definitely call the IRS, or if there's a field office near you, go talk to someone in person.

[Momto2Boyz]

We're pretty sure that they won't be filing with the state, so there will be no W-2.

I guess I never thought about filing an ammended return! I think I will call the IRS office here, for their advice and go from there. If we need to ammend later, we can! Thanks for the help!

[Nana2two]

The irs will have something. unless the company has not been paying in for the last 7 years.

[LuvMyHubby]

DD had this issue a while ago, they said that she hadn't returned a uniform shirt (she did) and they were holding her last check and W-2's and she called the IRS and explained, let me tell you both were here in two days......guess they found that shirt right quick.

Call the IRS and get their advice definately.

[Momto2Boyz]

We were actually shocked and pleasantly surprised to find the W-2 in the mail box yesterday! I was able to get our taxes done last night! Woo Hoo!

Then, last night, while DH and I were eating dinner, his old boss called and wanted to have a beer with him. He's starting another company and wanted DH to come back and manage the business for him.

I was so proud of DH, he pretty much said "forget it". He's got a great job with benefits and great pay, and he isn't leaving it for anything!

[LuvMyHubby]

Wow, I'm glad that you were able to get them. Maybe he had a hard time running them or getting his former payroll place to do it or getting all the info needed.

Either way I'm glad he did it on his own without having to get the IRS breathing down his neck.

Glad your hubby turned down the job offer. Good for him (and you)

[Milly]

I do love happy endings!!