How do you get a W2 from a non-existent company?

[RoJoHen]

Let's pretend your company's owners got bought out in the middle of the year. You should receive two different W2s, one from the old owner and one from the new.

Now, let's say that after the switchover, the old company went out of business. It no longer exists, and there is no way to contact them. The new owners don't even have that information.

In theory, I was told that the old company would be mailing out W2s to my home address. The problem is, I have switched addresses several times since I started working for them, and I have no idea which address they had on file for me.

Is there a way to get a hold of a W2 from someone other than your employer? Can you contact the IRS or some other agency?

 

[DeeEss57]

Let's pretend your company's owners got bought out in the middle of the year. You should receive two different W2s, one from the old owner and one from the new.

Now, let's say that after the switchover, the old company went out of business. It no longer exists, and there is no way to contact them. The new owners don't even have that information.

In theory, I was told that the old company would be mailing out W2s to my home address. The problem is, I have switched addresses several times since I started working for them, and I have no idea which address they had on file for me.

Is there a way to get a hold of a W2 from someone other than your employer? Can you contact the IRS or some other agency?

Call your local IRS office and if they can't help you, they will know someone who can.


DES

 

[wew]

Are you talking about the same IRS that if they give you bad advice, still hold you responsible for that bad advice?

If you filled out change of address forms, the information should be sent along in the mail.

 

[RoJoHen]

If you filled out change of address forms, the information should be sent along in the mail.

Filled out forms from who? I never bothered changing my contact info at work because previous W2s were given to me in person by my manager. They had no other reason to know my address. Also, even if I gave my current managers my new address, the old owners still have no way of getting that information.

My W2 was sent to one of the 4 different addresses I've lived in the last 3 years of working there. I have no idea which address they had on file.

 

[RevDMV]

Well on the mailing front, the question I have is; did they mail you one last year? if so, then have you moved and posted a forwarding notice. If you have then no problem.

Although in a buy out situation I would expect the new owners are responsible for this activity.

Anyway, in the end, yes, the IRS is the go to point for information. In this case your asking for concrete details not advice.

 

[CaptainHawk1]

If you filled out change of address forms, the information should be sent along in the mail.

Filled out forms from who? I never bothered changing my contact info at work because previous W2s were given to me in person by my manager. They had no other reason to know my address. Also, even if I gave my current managers my new address, the old owners still have no way of getting that information.

My W2 was sent to one of the 4 different addresses I've lived in the last 3 years of working there. I have no idea which address they had on file.

Actually, they do have a reason to know your address for tax purposes and to avoid problems like you're having now. What if you were living in a different state or different country even (think border states) yet still working for them in that state/country?

By law, you are supposed to have your W-2's mailed to you or otherwise given to you by 01/31. If you don't work there anymore, they must mail them to you. If the company was absorbed by another company, the new company inherits all assets, debts and obligations even if they subsequently liquidate the old company. This has nothing to do with the old company. The new company should be able to provide you with the necessary documents upon request to the address that you indicate.

But seriously, four moves in three years? Not to give you too hard of a time but didn't you think it might be a little prudent to not only inform the employer but to at least go online and request/complete the change of address forms?

Well, you live and learn. I bet you won't let that happen again.

-Shawn

 

[CaptainHawk1]

Are you talking about the same IRS that if they give you bad advice, still hold you responsible for that bad advice?

I hate to give props to the IRS based on principle, but they are usually very good with the information that they provide.

-Shawn

 

[Lindley]

Filled out forms from who?

Your local post office, for starters.

 

[Rÿcher]

Vinny and Vito ain't never had no uses for no W nuthins.

 

[Timby]

Filled out forms from who?

Your local post office, for starters.

No kidding. RoJoHen, have you never heard of the concept of filing change-of-address forms with the USPS upon moving? You can do it online here. Your old address is flagged at the post office that delivered to your prior address, and your mail is then forwarded to your new address.

I mean, Christ, whenever I've moved, I've filed change-of-address with the postal service before I even updated my driver's license, vehicle registration or insurance information.

As for your tax information, you should contact the IRS for specifics. You've kind of boned yourself, though, by failing to keep the USPS apprised of mail forwarding needs. Don't bone yourself further and grossly under-report your tips for tax purposes, now that you've already lent yourself to some W2 fuckery.

 

[Mallory]

Vinny and Vito ain't never had no uses for no W nuthins.

WTF?

 

[Rÿcher]

Vinny and Vito ain't never had no uses for no W nuthins.

WTF?

Non-existent companies? Off the books? No paper trail?

Come on, even Mikey the Chin could figure this out and he's at the bottom of Lake Mead.

 

[Plecostomus]

Around here companies outsource payroll to services like ATD and Paychex. They handle the payroll processing and everything up to the W2 mailing... If that's how it is in your situation try contacting the service.

 

[CaptainHawk1]

Vinny and Vito ain't never had no uses for no W nuthins.

WTF?

He's suggesting that some Italians do their work, shall we say, off the books.

Which is inaccurate because doze guyz usually get W-2's for Waste Management, Construction or other Union jobs that they don't show up for.

Hey, I watched all seven seasons of the Sopranos... I know what goes on.

-Shawn

 

[CaptJimboJones]

Just relax and ignore the whole situation. If things get bad, you can always fake your death.

 

[Rÿcher]

Vinny and Vito ain't never had no uses for no W nuthins.

WTF?

He's suggesting that some Italians do their work, shall we say, off the books.

Sicilians, not Italians.

 

[CaptainHawk1]

WTF?

He's suggesting that some Italians do their work, shall we say, off the books.

Sicilians, not Italians.

Y'know... when i posted that I though to myself, I'd better make the distinction or I'm gonna piss somebody off.

-Shawn

 

[auntiehill]

RoJoHen, do you still have your last pay stub from that job? It should have listed the amount you made that year, with and without tax. The IRS will accept that if the company has failed to send you W-2 by the 31st. I think there's also a special form to fill out to let the IRS know who didn't send you the form, so they can go after them.

I had worked for a short time at a company that had a BITCH of business manager, who just HATED me. She never sent my W-2, so I contacted the IRS online and filled out the form.

My W-2 magically appeared, and I had my taxes filed by the end of February.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Also, check if your employer offers your W-2 online. Mine does. Comes in very handy. (they don't actually e-mail you the W-2 itself, they let you know it's ready on a secure site)

 

[RoJoHen]

Change of Address forms: no, I've never filled them out. For the majority of my moves, I was in college and so I used my parent's address as my permanent address.

The only mail I receive of any consequence are my utility bills (so I give them my new address when I activate services anyway) or cards from my grandma. Mail has never been an issue so far.

The old company is definitely responsible for the old W2s. The new owners bought out our franchise, and with the arrangement they had made, all employees essentially started from scratch. The old company (or whoever is in charge of it) has mailed out the W2s to whatever addresses they have. The only problem is that there is no real way to contact them anymore to let them know where I currently live.

I have already received my W2 from the new company, but the change of ownership occurred in the middle of the year, so I don't have a W2 accounting for the period Janurary-May when we were still under the old ownership.

And no, I definitely don't have a pay stub from that far back.