Form W-2 and Form 1099 Guide for Employees

ADP is here to help as much as we can, but for most questions regarding Form W-2, Form 1099 and other tax issues, we recommend you speak with your payroll or benefits department.

What to Expect

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Your employer is required to provide you with Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. If your employer does not provide online access to your W-2, they must mail or hand-deliver your W-2 to you no later than January 31st. If you are not sure if you have online access, please check with your company HR or Payroll department. Only your employer can give you online access.

View your W-2 Online

How do I access my ADP W-2?

  • If your employer has given you online access to access your pay information, log into login.adp.com. Note, not all companies use our online portal so if you are unable to log in, please contact your employer directly to ask about your W2.
  • If you’re having trouble logging in, visit the ADP Login Help page.
  • What if the information on my W-2 is wrong?
    If there’s an error on your W-2, please ask your employer’s payroll or HR contact for help. They are the only ones who can make changes to your W-2.

How do I access my W-2 from a previous employer?
If you have previously logged into the ADP portal to get your paystub or W-2 from your former employer, you can try and access your information. If you are unable to log in, your former employer may have removed your online account. You will need to contact your former company HR or Payroll department to request a copy of your W-2. ADP cannot provide you with your W-2.

If you are unable to contact your former employer or are having difficulty getting your W-2, the IRS can help - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/form-w2-missing-irs-can-help or call 800-829-1040.

How to Keep Your W2 Secure

  • Passwords: Use a unique, strong password for each of your accounts that contain sensitive information, including your ADP account, your benefits, payroll and bank accounts and any other sensitive accounts that may include tax information. Make sure that you do not share your password with anyone, and do not use the same password across multiple accounts.
  • Check The Mail: If your W2 is mailed to you, make sure that your mailbox is adequately protected (with lighting, video doorbells, etc.) and that you retrieve the mail frequently.
  • Send Securely: The most secure way to transfer your documents is in person because you can verify what you are providing, who you are giving it to, what they are receiving, and there is no intermediary between you and your tax preparer. However, if you need to transfer your documents electronically, keep in mind the below.
    • Don’t send your W2 or other sensitive documents via email.
    • If you must send your files digitally, encrypt them using an online encryption tool and verbally provide your tax preparer with the encryption key. Do not email it.
    • Share your files using an encrypted file sharing service.
  • Storage: Only keep tax documents for as long as you are legally required to. If you are storing physical W2s, make sure to store them in a fire-proof safe or a bank’s safe deposit box. If you are storing them digitally, ensure that you are using a strong, unique password to access your online account and enable two-factor authentication.
  • Proper Disposal: When it’s time to get rid of tax or financial documents, properly shred and dispose of them to make it very difficult for a criminal to glean any sensitive information from them. For digital files, make sure that the files are permanently deleted from your Trash Bin and your laptop.
  • For more information about preventing tax fraud and identity theft, visit www.adp.com/trust

FAQs

What if I haven’t received my W-2 or 1099?
If you have not received your Form W-2 or Form 1099, please contact your employer to learn if and when the W-2 was delivered. If it was mailed, it may have been returned to your employer because of an incorrect or incomplete address. If you do not receive your W-2 by February 15th, you can call the IRS at 800-829-1040.

My Form W-2 or 1099 information is incorrect. Who do I contact?
If your Form W-2 or 1099 information is incorrect, please contact your employer to make the change. Examples of wrong information would be an incorrect Social Security Number, incorrect name, or incorrect wages. If your attempts to have a Form W-2 corrected by your employer are unsuccessful and it is after February 15th, contact the IRS at 800-829-1040.

I need a W-2 or 1099 from employer who has gone out of business. What do I do?
If your former employer is no longer in business, they are still obligated to provide you with a W-2. If you still do not receive your W-2 by February 15th, you can contact the IRS at https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/form-w2-missing-irs-can-help or call 800-829-1040.

If you decide to call the IRS after February 15th, it will be helpful to have your last paystub available which should include your employer’s Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Please note: ADP cannot provide W-2's, login information or assistance directly to employees. Please contact your current or former employer directly.

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