when should you receive your w2
You should normally receive your W‑2 by the end of January for the prior tax year, and it’s very common for it to actually show up (or be posted online) in late January or the first couple weeks of February.
Quick Scoop
- Employers are required to send or make W‑2s available to employees no later than January 31 each year.
- Because of mail time and processing, many people don’t see the form until early February. That’s still considered normal.
- If January 31 falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline shifts to the next business day.
- For the current filing season, W‑2s for the prior year generally must be provided to employees by January 31 (or the adjusted date if it moves), and many tax resources for 2026 still use that date as the standard reference.
What this means for you
- Expect your W‑2:
- In your online payroll/HR portal in late January.
* In your physical mailbox in **late January to early February** if your employer mails paper copies.
- When to start worrying:
- If you haven’t received your W‑2 or can’t see it online by mid‑February , it’s a good time to contact your employer’s HR or payroll department to ask for a copy and confirm your address/email.
- If it’s still missing later:
- The IRS generally allows you to call them for help if your W‑2 is still missing well after mid‑February; they can follow up with your employer or guide you on next steps for filing using your last pay stub and a substitute form.
Tiny example
If you worked all of 2025, your employer must send or provide your 2025 W‑2 by around January 31, 2026 , and it’s entirely normal if you don’t actually see it in your mail or portal until the first week or two of February.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.