The all-important W-2 tax form is provided by employers to employees who earned at least $600 in cash or noncash payments in the prior calendar year.

Since your W-2 is vital to completing your tax return when tax season opens -- this year it's Monday, Jan. 27 -- your employer has a deadline to get your form to you: Employers are required to ...

is required to provide or send Form W-2, known as a "Wage and Tax Statement" to you no later than Jan. 31. If it is mailed, though, the IRS says you should allow time to receive it before contacting ...