The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires every American filing taxes to prove their earnings at each job with a form called the W2. Employers prepare this document and send it to their employees at the beginning of each year. Some employers mail paper copies of W2 forms, which can take until the end of January to arrive. Others, however, make W2 forms available online so that employees can access them more quickly, sometimes during the first week of the new year. If your employer offers W2 forms online, make sure to print a copy for your records. Keep your W2 for seven years after you file your taxes, in case you are audited by the IRS.