By law when do w2 have to be mailed
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), employers are required to furnish a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, to their employees by January 31st of each year. This deadline applies to both paper and electronic W-2 forms.
Here are the specific requirements:
- Paper W-2 forms: Employers must mail or hand-deliver paper W-2 forms to their employees by January 31st of each year.
- Electronic W-2 forms: Employers can furnish electronic W-2 forms to their employees by January 31st of each year, as long as they meet certain requirements, such as:
- Providing a written consent from the employee to receive electronic W-2 forms.
- Using a secure method to transmit the W-2 form, such as a password-protected website or a secure email system.
- Providing a paper copy of the W-2 form to employees who request it.
It's important to note that employers are also required to file W-2 forms with the Social Security Administration (SSA) by January 31st of each year. This is done electronically through the SSA's Business Services Online (BSO) system.
If an employer fails to furnish a W-2 form to an employee by the January 31st deadline, they may be subject to penalties and fines.