Feeling a little lost trying to dig up that old W-2 on TurboTax? Don't worry, you're definitely not alone! Many people find themselves in this situation, whether it's for loan applications, income verification, or just keeping meticulous records. While TurboTax is a fantastic tool for preparing and filing your taxes, it's important to understand what it stores and how you can access it.
Let's dive in and get you reconnected with your past tax documents.
The Quest for Your Old W-2 on TurboTax: A Step-by-Step Guide
First things first, it's crucial to understand a key point: TurboTax does not directly store copies of your W-2 forms provided by your employer. Your W-2 is a document issued by your employer, not by TurboTax. What TurboTax does store are the details from your W-2 that you entered or imported into your tax return, which are then part of your completed tax return. So, when you're looking for an "old W-2 on TurboTax," you're actually looking for your prior year's tax return where that W-2 information was included.
Here's how to navigate the process:
Step 1: Let's begin by figuring out where your tax return might be hiding!
Did you use TurboTax Online or the TurboTax Desktop (CD/Download) software to file your taxes in previous years? This is the most important distinction, as the retrieval process differs significantly.
If you used TurboTax Online: Your tax returns, including the data from your W-2s, are saved within your online account. This is the more common scenario for many users today.
If you used TurboTax Desktop (CD/Download): Your tax returns, including your W-2 information, are saved directly on the computer you used to file, not online with TurboTax.
Take a moment to recall which method you used for the year you need the W-2 from. This will guide our next steps.
Step 2: Accessing Your Prior Year Tax Returns (Where Your W-2 Info Lives)
Now that you've identified your filing method, let's get you into your past tax information.
Sub-heading 2.1: For TurboTax Online Users
This is usually the easiest path. TurboTax Online automatically saves PDF copies of your completed tax returns for up to seven years.
Sign In to Your TurboTax Account:
Go to the official TurboTax website (
turbotax.intuit.com Click on "Sign In" (usually in the top right corner).
It's critical to use the same User ID and password you used when you filed that specific year's return. If you have multiple TurboTax accounts, you might need to try a few different logins.
Navigate to Your Tax Returns & Documents:
Once logged in, you might see a summary of your current year's taxes or a "Tax Home" screen.
Look for a section titled "Your tax returns & documents" or "Documents." This might be a prominent link on the main page, or accessible through a menu (often a hamburger icon ☰ or a "My Account" dropdown).
Scroll down if necessary to find this section.
Select the Desired Tax Year:
Within "Your tax returns & documents," you'll see a list of available tax years.
Click on the year for which you need to see your W-2 information.
Download Your Tax Return PDF:
For the selected year, you should see an option to "Download/print return (PDF)" or "Download tax PDF."
Click this option to download a complete PDF copy of your tax return for that year.
Locate Your W-2 Information:
Open the downloaded PDF. Your W-2 information will be included within the forms and worksheets that make up your tax return. Look for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement within the document. It will show the data you entered from your original W-2.
Sub-heading 2.2: For TurboTax Desktop (CD/Download) Users
If you used the desktop software, your files are stored locally on your computer.
Locate Your Tax Data File:
By default, TurboTax Desktop usually saves your tax data files (with a
.taxextension, e.g.,mytaxes2023.tax) in your "Documents" folder under a "TurboTax" subfolder (e.g.,Documents > TurboTax > 202X).Search your computer for files ending in
.taxortax[year](e.g.,tax2022).Remember, these files are only on the computer you used to prepare the return. If you've gotten a new computer since then, you'll need to transfer these files or find them on a backup.
Open the Prior Year's TurboTax Software:
You'll need the same year's TurboTax Desktop software to open the file. For example, to open a 2022 tax file, you need the 2022 TurboTax Desktop software installed. If you don't have it installed, you might need to reinstall it from your original CD or download.
Open Your Tax File:
Launch the correct year's TurboTax Desktop software.
Go to "File" > "Open Tax Return" and navigate to where you found your
.taxfile.Select the file and open it.
View Your W-2 Information:
Once the return is open, you can navigate through the forms.
Look for the W-2 entry section, or view the actual Form W-2 within the forms list. The data you entered from your original W-2 will be visible here. You can also print a copy of the entire return, which will include the W-2 information.
Step 3: What If You Can't Access Your TurboTax Account or Files?
Sometimes, the simplest path isn't available. Don't despair! There are still options.
Sub-heading 3.1: Account Recovery for TurboTax Online
If you've forgotten your User ID or password for your TurboTax Online account:
Use the Account Recovery Tool:
On the TurboTax sign-in page, look for "Forgot User ID or Password?"
Follow the prompts. You'll typically be asked to enter your phone number, email address, or User ID. TurboTax will then help you recover access, often by sending a verification code or listing potential User IDs associated with your information.
Be persistent! Sometimes it takes trying different email addresses or phone numbers you might have used in the past.
Sub-heading 3.2: If Your TurboTax Desktop Files Are Missing
If you can't find your .tax file on your computer, or if you've had a hard drive crash:
Check Backups: Did you back up your computer? Look on external hard drives, cloud storage services (like Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud), or USB drives for your tax files.
Consider Re-downloading Software: If you purchased the desktop software digitally, you might be able to re-download it from your TurboTax account's purchase history.
Step 4: Alternative Methods to Obtain W-2 Information (If TurboTax Access Fails)
If, for any reason, you cannot access your old W-2 information through TurboTax, there are other reliable sources.
Sub-heading 4.1: Contact Your Employer (Past or Present)
Your Employer is the Primary Source: Your employer is legally obligated to provide you with your W-2.
Reach out to their payroll or human resources department. They can usually provide you with a duplicate copy of your W-2. Be prepared to provide your full name, Social Security Number, and the tax year you need. This is often the quickest and easiest alternative.
Sub-heading 4.2: Request a Wage and Income Transcript from the IRS
The IRS keeps records of your W-2 information. You can request a "Wage and Income Transcript" for free. This transcript shows data from information returns, such as W-2s, 1099s, and 1098s, that were reported to the IRS.
How to request:
Online: Go to
irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript By Mail: Use Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return. Mail it to the IRS. It can take 5 to 10 calendar days to receive it by mail.
By Phone: Call the IRS at 1-800-908-9946.
Important Note: A wage and income transcript will show the data from your W-2, but not an actual copy of the W-2 itself. For most purposes, this data is sufficient.
Sub-heading 4.3: Request a Copy of Your Tax Return from the IRS (Includes W-2)
If you need an actual copy of your filed tax return, which would include your W-2, you can request it from the IRS using Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return.
Be aware: The IRS charges a fee for each copy of your tax return requested (currently $43 per return). It can take up to 75 calendar days for the IRS to process your request and mail you the copy.
Sub-heading 4.4: Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA)
For W-2 information specifically, you can also request a copy from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They maintain W-2 records because they are linked to your Social Security earnings.
This option usually involves a fee and might take longer. You can find more information on the SSA website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 related FAQs to help you further:
How to access my TurboTax account if I forgot my User ID?
Go to the TurboTax account recovery page (often linked as "Forgot User ID or Password" on the sign-in screen) and enter your email address or phone number. TurboTax will guide you through the steps to identify your User ID.
How to get a W-2 if my employer went out of business?
First, try contacting any former colleagues or the company's HR/payroll provider if you know who it was. If unsuccessful, request a Wage and Income Transcript from the IRS (free) or a copy of your tax return from the IRS (for a fee) for the relevant year. You can also contact the Social Security Administration.
How to import an old W-2 into a new TurboTax return?
TurboTax generally allows W-2 import for the current tax year. For previous years, if you're trying to amend a return or file a prior year's return, you'll typically need to manually enter the W-2 information from your saved PDF of that year's return or from a copy obtained from your employer/IRS.
How to find W-2 information for a specific year in my TurboTax PDF?
Once you download your prior year's tax return PDF from TurboTax Online or open it from your Desktop software, use the search function (Ctrl+F or Command+F) and type "W-2" to quickly locate the Wage and Tax Statement form within the document.
How to get W-2 information if I used TurboTax Desktop and my computer crashed?
If you didn't back up your files, unfortunately, the tax data file might be unrecoverable from the crashed drive. Your best options are then to contact your employer, request a Wage and Income Transcript from the IRS, or order a copy of your tax return from the IRS.
How to know if my W-2 was successfully imported into TurboTax?
When you're preparing your return in TurboTax, after importing your W-2, you'll typically see a summary of the imported information. You can also review the generated tax forms within TurboTax before filing to ensure the W-2 data is correctly populated.
How to view W-2s from multiple employers in TurboTax?
If you had multiple employers in a single tax year and entered all W-2s into TurboTax, all of that W-2 information will be compiled within your single tax return PDF for that year. Each W-2 will have its own section or display within the overall return.
How to print only my W-2 from a TurboTax return?
While you can print the entire PDF of your tax return, which includes your W-2, TurboTax typically doesn't offer a feature to print just the W-2 in isolation after the return is completed. You would need to print the relevant pages from the full PDF.
How to get a free copy of my W-2 data from the IRS?
You can obtain a free "Wage and Income Transcript" from the IRS. This transcript provides the key data from your W-2 (and other income forms) that was reported to the IRS by your employer. Visit
How to update my contact information with TurboTax for future access?
Once logged into your TurboTax Online account, navigate to your "Account Settings" or "Profile." Here you can update your email address, phone number, and security settings, which can be crucial for easier account recovery in the future.
