Is employer required to mail w 2
In the United States, employers are required to provide their employees with a W-2 form, also known as a Wage and Tax Statement, by January 31st of each year. The W-2 form reports an employee's wages and taxes withheld for the previous calendar year.
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), employers are required to furnish a W-2 form to each employee who:
- Earned more than $600 in wages, tips, or other compensation from the employer during the calendar year.
- Had federal income taxes withheld from their wages.
Employers are also required to file a copy of the W-2 form with the Social Security Administration (SSA) by January 31st of each year.
Here are some key points to note:
- Employers are not required to mail W-2 forms to employees, but they must provide them in a timely manner. Employers can provide W-2 forms electronically, as long as the employee has consented to receive them electronically.
- Employers must keep a copy of the W-2 form on file for at least three years in case of an audit or other inquiry.
- Employees can request a copy of their W-2 form from their employer if they do not receive one by February 15th of each year.
It's worth noting that employers may also be required to provide other forms to employees, such as the 1099-MISC form for independent contractors or the 1099-R form for pension and annuity distributions.