Employers are required to deliver or mail/(postmark) employee copies of W2s by February 2, 2009. You can request an extension.
Employer's "red ink" Copy A, must be mailed to the Social Security Administration by March 2, 2009. If you file online at the SSA web site, you will have until March 31, 2009.
There are penalties for filing late.
If the employer doesn't provide a W2 to employees (perhaps they are no longer in business), an employee can file their own W2 with the SSA to make sure they get credit for Soc. Sec. Benefits when they retire.
For the 2009 tax year the deadline was January 28 2010.
January 31st
Employers must file W2's by January 31. If an employer fails to meet the deadline they will be fined a $50 penalty on top of additional penalties of not filing a W2 properly.
I believe it today 31st of January 2011, it should have been mailed by that date.
A W2 form can be received from your employer, who should write you one for income tax. This should be mailed out on or before January 31, which will allow you enough time to complete before the April 15 deadline.
You can request a duplicate w2 from your employer.
The penalty is $50.00 per W2 that is filed late.
2/08/2011 no W2 from employer yet.
january 31st
If you don't receive a W2 by the deadline, you need to contact your employer and get another copy of the form in question. There can be several reasons that you didn't receive it such as moving and not giving them your new address, perhaps they had the incorrect address to start with. The employer is required to mail you a form but even if they don't it does not relieve you from reporting all income on your tax return.You will first need to contact the employer to get another copy. If they are no longer in business and can't be found you can call the IRS and see what can be done beyond that if they don't have the information.
by asking your employer
Yes, you can get your W2 tax form online if your employer allows you to. Generally, though, your employer will mail you a copy of your W2 forms for added security.