# I forgot to put my W2 in with my tax return. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675 "2015-02-26T16:40:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/1 "2015-02-26T16:40:35Z")
I mean, I used all the information _from_ my W2, I just didn’t put the W2 itself in the envelope when I mailed it off. :smack: What now? ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/2 "2015-02-26T16:45:50Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I mean, I used all the information _from_ my W2, I just didn’t put the W2 itself in the envelope when I mailed it off. :smack: > What now? Do nothing. If the IRS wants your W-2, they will contact you. If you just send it to them without a specific request, it will cause confusion and delay. If your address changes, be sure to notify them immediately. Use [Form 8822](http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8822.pdf). ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/3 "2015-02-26T16:54:59Z")
Since I have filed electronically for the last dozen years, I don’t believe I’ve ever included my W2 with my return. The IRS gets an electronic copy of your W2 from your employer. They then electronically match the amount of your wages and your withholdings on your return with the W2 submitted by your employer. If they don’t match then you get contacted. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/4 "2015-02-26T16:56:26Z")
They have a copy of your W2, by the way. Your employer sends one. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/5 "2015-02-26T17:03:05Z")
Whew, thanks guys. I had no idea my employer sends them a copy of my W2. Ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/6 "2015-02-26T17:03:20Z")
That’s so cute, **Shakes** files a paper return. What are you, Amish? No, what those guys said, you’ll be fine. The feds already know that data, and if you try to send it in now it’ll add some confusion. If they need it, they’ll ask for it. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/7 "2015-02-26T17:08:09Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > They have a copy of your W2, by the way. Your employer sends one. They will eventually get a copy. But they probably don’t have one yet. The [deadline for e-filing the copy of the W-2 that goes to the SSA is March 31](http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw2w3.pdf). There is an automatic 30 day extension available, all you have to do is ask. After it goes to the SSA, the IRS has to wait for the SSA to forward them a copy. It is true that you do not have to file a W-2 with an e-filed return, but the e-filed return asks for a lot of information that the paper return doesn’t, like the employer’s name, address, and EIN, as well as the individual itemized boxes on the W-2. Yes, the IRS does send out refunds before it is able to verify the information on the W-2. People who are inclined to commit tax fraud have taken ample advantage of this. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/8 "2015-02-26T17:25:51Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > That’s so cute, **Shakes** files a paper return. What are you, Amish? No, what those guys said, you’ll be fine. The feds already know that data, and if you try to send it in now it’ll add some confusion. If they need it, they’ll ask for it. I do and my brother does- and he worked for the IRS for 20 years. Why pay someone to file for you? But yeah you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/9 "2015-02-26T17:26:15Z")
think of breaking rocks in the hot sun as exercise. they have your address and know where to find you. they know already. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/10 "2015-02-28T02:39:52Z")
And the IRS contacting you is not always a nightmare. Once they told me I overpaid and sent me me a notice on how to get it. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/11 "2015-02-28T14:24:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I do and my brother does- and he worked for the IRS for 20 years. Why pay someone to file for you? I’ve never understood why people buy software but E-filing can be free. Go to the IRS website and there will be a section for free e-filing. They don’t have their own software, they have links to several tax preparers who do it for free online. It took me 15 minutes to file my taxes online this year. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/12 "2015-02-28T14:43:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I do and my brother does- and he worked for the IRS for 20 years. Why pay someone to file for you? I do my own taxes, and I file electronically. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-to-put-my-w2-in-with-my-tax-return/713675/13 "2015-02-28T20:32:24Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > I’ve never understood why people buy software but E-filing can be free. Go to the IRS website and there will be a section for free e-filing. They don’t have their own software, they have links to several tax preparers who do it for free online. It took me 15 minutes to file my taxes online this year. Sure, but they ask for a lot of info. A stamp is pretty cheap.