You should normally receive your W‑2 from your employer by the end of January , but for the current 2026 filing season the effective deadline is February 2, 2026 , because January 31 falls on a Saturday this year.

Key dates for your W‑2 in 2026

  • Employers are legally required to furnish or make W‑2s available no later than January 31 each year.
  • When that date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day ; in 2026 that makes February 2, 2026 the final day employers must provide access to W‑2s.
  • Many employers release digital W‑2s earlier in January through portals like ADP or Workday, often between mid‑ and late‑January.
  • Paper W‑2s sent by mail can arrive a few days after the deadline, depending on postal speed.

If you still don’t have it

  • If it’s just after January 31 (or February 2 this year), give it a few days for mail or portal updates; a slight delay is common.
  • If you still don’t have your W‑2 by mid‑February , the IRS and tax pros generally recommend you start following up:
    • Contact your employer or former employer first and confirm your address and delivery method.
    • If that fails, you can later contact the IRS and, as a last resort, use your final pay stub with Form 4852 to file, but only after trying to resolve it with your employer and the IRS.

Quick FAQ style recap

  • “When should you receive your W‑2 form from your employer?”
    Typically by January 31 , or the next business day if that date falls on a weekend or holiday (so February 2, 2026 this year).
  • “Is it normal not to have it on January 31 exactly?”
    Yes. It can show up a few days later, especially if mailed, as long as the employer sent or made it available by the deadline.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.