- Tax Day 2019 is Monday, April 15.
- Even if the partial government shutdown continues, the IRS says it will accept and provide refunds to taxpayers starting January 28.
- You can’t file your taxes until you receive your W-2 form from your employer, which must be filed and postmarked on or before January 31.
Despite the partial government shutdown, the IRS plans to accept returns and provide refunds to taxpayers as scheduled.
Typically, employers must file and postmark tax-related documents by January 31. Therefore, you should receive your forms by early February. But if you receive all your forms before then, you can file your tax return as early as January 28.
In order to submit your tax return, you first need a W-2 form, or Wage and Tax statement, from every employer you had during 2018. If you’re a freelancer, you’ll need 1099 forms.
The deadline for filing your 2018 tax returns is Monday, April 15, 2019.
Read more: Tax Day is April 15. Here's what you can expect when filing under the new tax law
If you haven't received your form by mid-February, you should first contact your employer and request a copy or ask that it be resent, according to the IRS. If that doesn't work, you can then contact the IRS at 800-829-1040. You'll need to provide the following information:
- Name, address, Social Security number, and phone number
- Your employer's name, address, and phone number
- Dates you worked for your employer
- An estimate of your paid wages and federal income tax withheld during 2018
If you still don't have your W-2 by April 15, you can use the W-2 substitute, Form 4852, and estimate your wages and withheld taxes. Note that the IRS could delay your refund while verifying the information. You can also file for a six-month extension using the IRS Free File.
If you receive your W-2 after filing and the information is different than what you claimed, you'll need to file an amended tax return using Form 1040X.
Once you file your taxes, you should receive your tax refund within 21 days of filing.
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