Contact your former employer’s payroll or HR department
Ask for a copy of your W-2 for the specific tax year
Check your former employer’s employee self-service portal if you still have access
Contact the payroll provider used by the employer if you know it
Request a wage and income transcript from the IRS
Use IRS Form 4506-T to request transcripts by mail or fax
Create or log in to your IRS online account to view tax records
Contact the Social Security Administration if you need wage records for older years
Check your own tax records, tax software, or saved copies from prior years
Contact your tax preparer if one filed your return
File Form 4852 if you cannot get the W-2 and need to file your taxes
Keep a record of the employer name, address, and tax year when making the request