Employers must provide W‑2 forms to employees by January 31 following the end of the tax year.

General W‑2 timing

• The IRS requires employers to send W‑2s to employees no later than January 31 each year for the prior calendar year’s wages. If January 31 falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.

• For the 2020 tax year specifically, the deadline to furnish 2020 W‑2s was February 1, 2021, because January 31, 2021 fell on a Sunday.

If you don’t see your W‑2 by mid‑February, the IRS guidance is to first contact your employer and then contact the IRS if it still has not arrived.