One of the most common reasons taxpayers fall behind on their filings is simple: lost records. If you haven't filed in five years, chances are you no longer have the W-2 from that old job or the 1099 from that brief freelance gig in 2021.
Many people assume they are "stuck" until they can locate the original documents. The good news? The IRS already has the information you need. Here is how to reconstruct your tax history and get compliant in 2026.
Step 1: Request an IRS "Wage and Income" Transcript
The IRS receives a copy of every W-2, 1099, and 1098 issued to your Social Security Number. You can request a Wage and Income Transcript, which provides a summary of all the data reported to the IRS by third parties.
- How to get it: You can download these instantly by creating an IRS Online Account
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- The Limitation: Online transcripts are often "masked" (hiding portions of the Employer ID Number). For state filings, you may need an Unmasked Transcript, which usually requires a phone call to the IRS or a professional request.
Step 2: Use IRS Form 4852 (The W-2 Substitute)
If your employer has gone out of business or refuses to send a copy of your old W-2, you aren't out of luck. You can use IRS Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.
This form allows you to estimate your income and withholding based on your last pay stub or the information found in your IRS transcripts. While this is a lifesaver for late filers, it must be filled out precisely to avoid triggering an audit.
Step 3: Reconstructing Self-Employment Income
If you were a 1099 contractor or business owner, a Wage and Income Transcript only tells half the story—it shows your income, but not your expenses.To lower your tax bill, you need to reconstruct your deductions. In 2026, we help clients do this by:
- Analyzing Bank Statements: Highlighting business-related transactions from years ago.
- Industry Standards: Using typical expense ratios for your specific profession (with proper documentation) to ensure you aren't overpaying.
Step 4: Don't Forget the States
While the IRS has a great database, they do not always store your state-level withholding information. If you owe state taxes, you may need to contact your state's Department of Revenue separately or use your final year-end pay stubs to find out how much state tax was taken out.
Why Professional Help is Crucial for Old Returns
Filing a return from 2021 or 2022 isn't as simple as using current-year software. Tax laws change every year—especially with the retroactive updates in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act of 2025.
At Wolf Tax, we maintain a library of tax software and regulations for the last 10+ years. We don't just guess; we use official IRS transcripts to ensure your return matches what the IRS expects, significantly reducing the risk of a "Notice of Deficiency" later.
Missing paperwork is a hurdle, not a brick wall.
