getting copies of my old W-2's and deceased ancestors past W

yawnmoth · Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

Say I wanted to copies, from the IRS, of some of my old W-2's or (for
curiosities sake) even those of my great grandparents or whatever. Is
that possible? If so, how might I go about doing it?

Archived from group: misc>taxes

Paul Thomas, CPA · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 3094

"yawnmoth" wrote
> Say I wanted to copies, from the IRS, of some of my old W-2's or (for
> curiosities sake) even those of my great grandparents or whatever. Is
> that possible? If so, how might I go about doing it?

You'd need your great grandparents to sign a 2848 - power of attorney
authorizing you to act on their behalf.

If that's possible, you can then ask the IRS for copies.

For you though, file Form 4506 http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf
and pay $39 for every year you want copies of. They probably only have the
past 7 years though. It should take 60+ days.

Oh yeah, if you e-filed, they don't - like - have the actual return, but a
digital file....ie: there's not a "form". The employer sends W-2 forms
(either paper or electronic files) to SSA, who only sends an electronic file
to IRS. IF......IF.....the IRS has any paper W-2's, it's from a paper
return you filed and attached them.

Transcripts (electronic spreadsheets) of your account are available for
free. Just call or visit the IRS office near you.

Or you can go back and ask your prior employer - but I doubt they have
records much past 6 - 8 years.

--
Paul A. Thomas, CPA
Athens, Georgia

yawnmoth · Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

On Feb 16, 11:18 am, "Paul Thomas, CPA"
wrote:
> "yawnmoth" wrote
>
> > Say I wanted to copies, from the IRS, of some of my old W-2's or (for
> > curiosities sake) even those of my great grandparents or whatever. Is
> > that possible? If so, how might I go about doing it?
>
> You'd need your great grandparents to sign a 2848 - power of attorney
> authorizing you to act on their behalf.

I'd do that, except my grandparents are kinda dead, heh.

> Transcripts (electronic spreadsheets) of your account are available for
> free. Just call or visit the IRS office near you.

Would emailing them be possible?

Anyway, thanks for the answers!

D. Stussy · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 126

"yawnmoth" wrote in message@d5g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> Say I wanted to copies, from the IRS, of some of my old W-2's or (for
> curiosities sake) even those of my great grandparents or whatever. Is
> that possible? If so, how might I go about doing it?

Not possible beyond 10 years (maybe less). You should look up "IRS Document
Retention periods" in the IRM on their web site. Electronic transcripts of
some returns since 1990 might be available but the paper is long gone.

Arthur Kamlet · Joined: 25 Aug 2007 Posts: 2053

In article ,
Paul Thomas, CPA wrote:
>
>"yawnmoth" wrote
>> Say I wanted to copies, from the IRS, of some of my old W-2's or (for
>> curiosities sake) even those of my great grandparents or whatever. Is
>> that possible? If so, how might I go about doing it?
>
>
>
>
>You'd need your great grandparents to sign a 2848 - power of attorney
>authorizing you to act on their behalf.
>
>If that's possible, you can then ask the IRS for copies.
>
>
>For you though, file Form 4506 http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf
>and pay $39 for every year you want copies of. They probably only have the
>past 7 years though. It should take 60+ days.

W-2 form box by box for federal information are available free
by filing form 4506-T. Generally state and local information
is not available.

--

ArtKamlet at a o l dot c o m Columbus OH K2PZH

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