Here in the USA, you can request electronic copies of your W2 forms (work documents) by going to the IRS website.
I had no idea you could get electronic copies, until last evening when searching the Reddit forum stumbled upon a screenshot that I’ve included below.
I already knew you could get hard copies from them. However, that takes up to 90 days to receive. You can also request to receive old copies of your W2’s by getting them from the employer. Here in the USA, they’re required to keep copies of those forms for four years. If I’d known that, yesterday morning, it would have been extremely helpful when talking with a company that needed proof of a place where I’d worked. I do keep copies of my W2 forms. However, I was at work, and I also knew for those particular years, that I would have to do some digging since I’d moved those documents.
It took a few minutes to register at the IRS website. You have to fill in personal information, and you’ll have to enter evidence to verify that you are who you claim. Identify theft is a thing after all. After jumping through those hoops I was able to access my electronic W2 forms. I especially like that all the information isn’t visible, some of the info is blurred. I was able to access files from 2011 – 2020.
From the IRS website.
How awesome is that? I was able to download the years needed, and Monday, I’ll be submitting the requested forms.