How to File Your Taxes if You Haven’t Received Your W-2 by April 15th

Can I Still File My US Expat Tax Return Without a W-2?

If you’re an American working abroad for a US company with a presence in a foreign country, you will receive a W-2 annually. But what happens if you haven’t received it by April 15th? Do not worry; you can still file your US expat tax return!

When Are W-2s Sent Out?

Federal law mandates that employers send employees wage and tax statement forms by January 31st each year or by the next business day if January 31st falls on a weekend.

Even if you left your job months ago, your previous employer can wait until January 31 to send your W-2 unless you request it earlier. In that case, they must provide it within 30 days.

You may be able to access your W-2 online as employers can send it electronically instead of via paper mail.

What to do if Your Wage and Tax Statement is Late

You can file Form 4852 as a substitute for a missing or incorrect W-2. However, it’s always best to get the actual W-2 if possible.

If you don’t get a response, call the IRS helpline. If you live outside the US, you can also contact the IRS American Abroad helpline at +1 (267) 941-1000. They may contact your employer to help obtain the missing form.

If you still haven’t received your wage and tax statement, you can file your taxes using Form 4852. This form serves as a substitute for a missing or incorrect W-2. However, if a foreign company employs you, they likely won’t issue a W-2. In this case, report your income on Form 1040, Line 1h.

Remember, if you’re working for a US employer, you’ll receive a W-2 form—easy enough, right? But if you work for a foreign employer, no W-2 for you! Don’t fall into the trap of filing Form 4852 or attaching your local payslip to your tax return. That’s not the way to go.

Instead, report your foreign salary, taxable employer pension contributions, and other fringe benefits in USD using the IRS’s average exchange rate. Keep it simple and accurate!

\And here’s the best part: US expats, with MyExpatTaxes, don’t need to stress about conversions or complicated reporting. Just enter your details in local currency, and we take care of the rest—turning all that info into a clean, compliant US tax return. It’s that easy!

Requesting More Time to File

If you are still tracking down your W-2, filing Form 4868 will give you an automatic six-month extension to file your annual return. While filing Form 4868 will only give you more time to file your return, it is not an extension for paying any owed taxes.

For this, you must estimate how much tax you owe and include that amount with Form 4868. If you pay less than what you owe, you may face interest and penalties, so taking your estimate seriously is important.

You should also request a filing extension through MyExpatTaxes if you need more time to get your local payslips or tax returns.

Want to File Your US Expat Taxes Without Your W-2?

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