Employers must send you your W-2 by January 31 for the earnings from the previous calendar year of work. This form shows the income you earned for the year and the taxes withheld from those earnings. If You Don’t Receive a W-2 If you don't receive your W-2 by January 31, inform your employer. If that doesn’t work, follow these other steps to get your W-2. If Your W-2 is Incorrect If your W-2 is incorrect, follow these guidelines to get a corrected one. Help for Employers The IRS offers resources on where, when and how employers can file W-2 forms for employees.