Ask the issuer first
Check payroll or financial account portals, then request a duplicate or corrected form from the employer or payer. Confirm your address.
Check IRS records
A wage and income transcript may show payer-reported information. Recent forms may not yet appear, and it may not include state withholding details.
Get help for missing W-2 or 1099-R
If contacting the issuer has not resolved the problem by the end of February, follow the IRS instructions below for assistance.
Plan before filing
Give us your records and explain what is missing. Form 4852 may apply to a missing W-2 or 1099-R; it is not a general substitute for every 1099.
Missing forms do not remove the duty to report income. Discuss filing options or a timely extension instead of guessing amounts.
Guidance checked October 19, 2026. Follow the current IRS instructions for your tax year.