Tax season can be a stressful time for a lot of us. After all, there’s so much to remember, and you need quite a few documents to finish your tax return. Failing to get the job done can mean missed deadlines, mistakes, missed deductions, or even financial penalties.

That’s why it’s essential to have all your essential tax documents at hand. And if you’re using a digital storage solution like Trustworthy, you can rest easy knowing that all your financial information is accessible at all times.

However, if you did lose an important tax document, don’t stress. There are ways you can get another copy of your missing document — and even a few hacks you can use to fill in the blanks.

Read on for instructions on who you should approach to recover lost tax documents, what information you’ll need to retrieve those documents, and find out how you can prevent future loss by using Trustworthy.

Key Takeaways

• You can contact your employer to obtain copies of any past W-2 forms, and your bank should be able to provide 1098 or 1099-INT forms.

• Use the IRS Get Transcript feature to access, view, or print any past tax documentation submitted to the IRS.

• To prevent further loss, use a digital storage solution to scan and store your tax documents so they’re always accessible.

How to Recover Lost Tax Documents

If you’ve lost an important tax document, your first step should always be to remain calm. There are multiple solutions available to help you secure another copy of your missing document — whether you’ve lost your W-2, 1099, 1098, or anything in between.

That being said, the route to follow to recover a lost tax document might vary depending on what it is you’re after. To help guide you, let’s explore a few different recovery options.

1. Contact Your Employer

In some cases, it’s possible to obtain a new copy of tax documentation from current or past employers. The most common situation in which you’ll need to approach your employer about tax documentation is to get a new W-2 form.

The W-2 is a US federal wage and tax statement that your employer provides every year. They also send a copy to the Social Security Administration (SSA), and the form itemizes your total annual wages and the amount of taxes that have already been withheld from your paycheck.

If you require a new W-2, the best place to start is your company’s human resources department or payroll provider. Typically, all you’ll need to do to get a new copy is briefly explain that you’ve misplaced your W-2 or didn’t receive it — but if your company uses an online payroll service, you might be able to log in and download the W-2 yourself.

2. Contact Your Bank

If you need a copy of your 1099-INT or 1098 form, you can typically obtain one from your bank or financial services provider.

Form 1098 is an IRS mortgage interest statement. Taxpayers use it to report the amount of interest or expenses that have been paid on a mortgage — and if your interest and expenses total $600 or more, you should receive this form annually.

Form 1099 is another IRS statement that outlines your income from a business or individual that’s unrelated to your regular employment. 

There are a few different types of 1099s, but the type you’ll often be able to get from your bank or mortgage lender is a 1099-INT. This form specifically documents the interest you’ve gained from a bank or financial services provider, so your bank should be able to supply you with a new copy.

If you need to recover for 1098 or 1099-INT, simply get in touch with your account manager or the customer services department at your bank. You’ll likely need to verify your identity with personal details or various account numbers — but again, it may be possible to access your 1099 or 1098 via an online banking portal.

3. Contact Your Accountant

If you generally use an accountant or tax preparation service to complete and submit your tax return, they should be able to provide you with copies of your tax documentation.

All you have to do is get in touch and ask if they have a copy of the missing tax document or can help you ‌obtain a new copy. A lot of accountants and tax professionals will keep copies of documents that they’ve filed on behalf of clients.

4. Contact the IRS

If your accountant, bank, or employer is unable to help you recover a lost tax document, it’s time to approach the IRS. Although this might feel a bit more daunting, don’t stress. The IRS has a simple procedure in place to issue these types of requests.

“If you need copies of past tax returns, the IRS provides transcripts through the Get Transcript tool on its website. You can request a Tax Return Transcript, which summarizes most line items from your filed return, or a Tax Account Transcript, which shows any changes made after filing,” explains Chris Heerlein, CEO of the Austin-based firm REAP Financial.

“If you need a full copy of your return, you will have to file Form 4506, but keep in mind that this process can take weeks if not months.”

5. Consult Past Tax Documents

When you need an essential tax document, it’s always best to request a new copy to verify the information you need. 

But if you’re pressed for time, it’s sometimes possible to use previous tax returns and bank records to fill in the gaps.

Here’s how:

• Review previous tax returns: Your tax return (Form 1040) and attached documents can often help you fill in the blanks for whatever you’re missing. This might include your wages, dividends or interest you declared, deductions you made, or credits you claimed.

• Review old bank statements: Looking at bank records can show you income sources from direct deposits, interest earned, or mortgage interest and student loan payments you can deduct from your tax bill.

• Review payroll records: To obtain information about your earnings, you can also consult pay stubs or log into your company’s payroll portal. This will help you estimate your total income and show you any tax withheld from your wages.

These methods should be able to help you fill in some important blanks. But when in doubt, you shouldn’t leave anything to chance regarding your taxes. That’s why it’s always best to obtain a copy of the document you’re missing.

Preventing Future Loss of Tax Documents

Once you acquire your missing tax documents, your next step should be to ensure you don’t lose them again. This isn’t just for your own peace of mind, but also to save you money and protect you from any future penalties.

“Good tax recordkeeping protects yourself in case of audits. This makes financial planning easier and ensures you do not miss deductions,” explains Heerlein.

“If you have to scramble every year to find receipts, W-2s, or investment statements, you are more likely to overpay or make mistakes that lead to IRS scrutiny. A simple system, whether a digital folder for scanned documents or a physical filing system, can save countless hours and unnecessary headaches.”

That’s where a platform like Trustworthy can offer a major lifeline.

Trustworthy’s unique Family Operating System® is designed to help busy families organize and maintain all their essential documents. Users can effortlessly scan and upload digital copies of all their financial information, and then the AI-powered Autopilot tool helps you name and categorize each file.

That means all of your tax documents are always searchable and easy to find. Autopilot can even generate quick summaries so you don’t have to waste hours sifting through each form. Trustworthy also creates automated reminders when it looks like a document needs to be reviewed or something is up for renewal, so you never miss a deadline.

From there, you can also securely share each document (or entire sections of your vault) with trusted individuals like family members, friends, your accountant, lawyer, or anyone in between. The access that you grant is granular, and it can be revoked at any time — which means you’re always in control of your secure documents.

Ready to get organized? Join Trustworthy for free and start protecting your tax documents today.