United States Social Security has given a special nod to those who need to complete a specific procedure. Many people have been waiting for this convenience for a long time, and now they know how to obtain some highly useful documents.
According to information from the SSA, people can now request copies of W-2 forms at no cost if they are justified as necessary for SSA purposes. This new development brings a free solution to a common problem: receiving copies of wage and tax statements to prove income to Social Security itself.
Ssa makes it easy for Americans to obtain copies of W-2 forms
The Administration has made it clear that anyone can request copies of W-2 forms issued from 1978 to today. If the use is for a Social Security program purpose, such as verifying years worked or benefits, there is no charge. Meanwhile, if the request is for other purposes—for example, to file tax returns, apply for loans, or for personal reasons—a standard fee is charged.
The justification required by SSA is simple: people must indicate that the copy is needed for Social Security purposes. If no reason is given, SSA automatically assumes it is for external use and charges the fee.
When do you have to pay the $126?
To request copies at no cost, the person must write to SSA and complete the application explaining that it is for Social Security program purposes. People must include basic personal information, the years requested, and explicitly state that the documents are needed for use by SSA.
If the request is not intended for use within the SSA, the fee is automatically applied. This $126 fee per request is standard and doesn't change if more than one W-2 form is included in the same application.
Another way to do it: the IRS
Additionally, IRS also offers ways to obtain information about wages and taxes related to the W-2 form. One option is to get an "income transcript," which shows the federal information reported by your employer to SSA. This is free or low-cost and can be requested through Form 4506-T.
If you need an exact copy of the W-2, you can use IRS Form 4506 and pay its fee. IRS processes the request in about 75 days. That may include the full W-2 if it was submitted with a paper return.