Is there a legal time limit for employers to distribute W-2s?
111450
It is January 31 following the year in which the income was paid.  The federal government and courts will not often intervene until several weeks after that deadline.  If you have not yet received your W-2, you might consider asking your attorney to write a non-threatening letter to the human resources department of your corporation.
1036964
depends on your 401K holder and system. Where I used to work it was 5 business days.
162223
FROM IRS.GOV\n\nI didn't get my W-2 by January 31, so I asked my employer for it, but I still don't have it. What should I do?\n\nIf you don't receive your Form W-2 (PDF) by February 15, contact the IRS for assistance at (800) 829-1040. Also, you may want to refer to Tax Topic 154, Form W-2 - What To Do if Not Received, to see the specific information the IRS will need in order to prepare Form 4852 (PDF), Substitute For Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, or Form 1099R, Distributions from Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc.
221079
Although you may not have received your W-2 form, this does not mean that you will be able to avoid filing your income tax return. Therefore, I suggest you use your last paycheck from your company for 2005 to determine your year-to-date totals.  By doing this you can prepare a substitute W-2 form - this puts IRS on notice that your company still has not sent you this form.  At that point, the company (and not you) would be on the hook for not submitting the W-2 form timely.
49684
It must have been postmarked Jan 31st.\n\nIf you don't receive your Form W-2 (PDF) by February 15, contact the IRS for assistance at (800) 829-1040. Also, you may want to refer to Tax Topic 154, Form W-2 - What To Do if Not Received, to see the specific information the IRS will need in order to prepare Form 4852 (PDF), Substitute For Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, or Form 1099R, Distributions from Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc
966289
Ignore the advice that says an employer has to give you something (pay or benefits) if you are full time.  \n\nSome employers may have policies about part-time/full-time when it comes to qualifying for benefits but it isn't because a law mandates it.  There is no 35 hour rule mandated either.\n\nAt some companies it is only if you work consistently more than a certain number of hours that their policy requires you to be reclassified as full time.\n\nSo the correct answer is, it depends on the employer.
29429
You get your W2 from your employer -- that's the only source.  Your employer is obligated to get you your W2 by January 31st.
35932
Your employer has until January 31 to get your W2 to you.  Make sure they have your current mailing address.  You can also contact your employer and request a copy of your last pay stub.
787089
Actually one little correction. The employer is required to have them mailed by January 31st. The employee doesn't necessarily have to have them in their hands by the 31st. As long as they are postmarked January 31st, the employer is ok.
698044
I have never once had an employeer ask for my previous W2's.  Why dont you ask them why they need this information?  Here is a link with someone who had the same problem: \nhttp://vnboards.ign.com/thistledown/b5157/99916716/p1/?9
56923
Employers are required by law to issue you a W2 by January 31st. Please be patient and wait until then before bugging the company. (I'm pretty sure they are busy trying to get these out.)\n\nAfter Jan 31st, try contacting the HR or payroll department.\n\nWilliam Perez\ntaxes.about.com
607406
Yes it is. They ask it so that they can decide what kind of salary to give you. My husband works in the semiconductor industry (companies like motorola, intel, samsung, etc) and for the last 2 companies that he worked for, he was asked to give w2 forms from the previous year.
51085
I believe that you would have to wait for it to be sent to you as you cannot print out one yourself. However I just saw a commercial yesterday for H&R Block where you can get a loan for your refund without having your w-2's. You just take in your last paycheck of the year and they gather all of your info.
15390
Heck no!  As soon as I get my w2s I do them on completetax on the internet.  That way I get my returns back right away.  Especially if I do an electronic fund transfer.  I received my state return last year if four days and federal in about a week.
224589
Unless specified in an employment contract (which is highly doubtful), there is no obligation of either party, employer or employee, to give any notice at all.  This is the case for most at-will employees.  The two week notice is essentially a business courtesy.  The other posters are right; it's two calendar weeks, which equates to 10 business days.  Although a professional kindness to give more notice, it's standard to give a two calendar week notice, and complaining that more wasn't given shows bitterness on behalf of the boss.
6537
None, the W-2 and W-4 are IRS forms and standard for every state, since the IRS is a Federal Agency.
430611
You can't order them online.  However, they are available from the IRS, however the process can take a few weeks.\n\nDownload the form 4506-T, and check the box indicating you want information returns (w-2s, 1099s, etc.) from the years you indicated, and then either mail or fax the form to the appropriate number/address.  The process will take 2-3 weeks.\n\nAlternately, you can try contacting your employers if 2-3 weeks won't work for you.