Prepared tax return from IRS wage & income transcript

[joanmcq]

I'm on hold with the IRS now, as we speak, getting info from a last minute person who lost everything BUT the W-2s. Common for this time of year. Luckily, CA has detailed withholding info on their website for those who've lost the actual form. I just attach a copy of the transcript. CA doesn't require the actual form.

[Gary2]

Sorry, Gary, but a W-2 is not the same thing as a transcript,

Let me play devil's advocate for a moment: What exactly is the difference between the transcript and a w-2? Would you accept a photocopy of Copy A of the W-2 (the one sent to the SSA, assuming a physical copy is sent)? If, instead of paper, the W-2 is sent electronically to the SSA (and then to the IRS), is there anything either of those two agencies could produce on paper from the electronic data that could constitute a suitable W-2 for filing purposes?

Granted, this is a bit of legal nitpicking.

[taxea]

yes if you fill out the substitute W-2 correctly

[newbie]

Yes, you can efile with Form 4852. No, Form 4852 is not sent with the return. It's not an accepted form for efile.

IRS Publication 1345 includes the details on efiling with a substitute W-2.

EROs must not electronically file individual income tax returns prior to
receiving Forms W-2, W-2G or 1099-R. If the taxpayer is unable to secure and provide a correct Form W-2, W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings, or 1099-R, Distributions
from Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts,
etc., the ERO may electronically file the return after the taxpayer completes Form
4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement or 1099-R, Distributions from
Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc.,
in accordance with the use of that form. If Form 4852 is used, the non-standard W-2
indicator must be included in the record, and the ERO must maintain Form 4852 in
the same manner required for Forms W-2, W-2G and 1099-R.

So you just need to mark the non-standard box. Some software will do the whole process automatically, you just fill in the 4852 it adds the W-2 and marks it nonstandard. In other software, you'll need to enter the information from the 4852 onto a W-2 and mark it nonstandard.

Per instructions I have a signed 4852(correct to the best of my knowledge) in my files and efiled the return. Thanks for all the thoughtful responses, who would of thunk such a simple question would stir up such an interesting conversation?

[OtisMozzetti]

I'm on hold with the IRS now, as we speak, getting info from a last minute person who lost everything BUT the W-2s. Common for this time of year. Luckily, CA has detailed withholding info on their website for those who've lost the actual form. I just attach a copy of the transcript. CA doesn't require the actual form.

In those instances where it isn't feasible or convenient to get into the California account website, I have found on several occasions that FTB phone folks are ready to answer the question "what was the California withholding?" without much of any fanfare such as getting authorization from the taxpayer. It helps of course if you seem to know all, such as the names of the employers.