To get a copy of your W-2G from the IRS, sign in to your Individual Online Account at IRS.gov and pull a Wage and Income Transcript for the year you need. That transcript compiles every information return filed under your Social Security number, W-2G forms included, and you can view or download it in minutes. If you can’t use the online system, you can request the same data by mailing Form 4506-T. And before doing either, it’s worth calling the payer, since they often turn around a duplicate faster than the IRS will.
Start With the Casino or Payer
Casinos, racetracks, sportsbooks, and state lotteries are required to keep records of the W-2G forms they issue, and most will send a duplicate on request. Have your name, Social Security number, and the approximate date and amount of the win ready. Going straight to the payer gets you an actual copy of the form rather than a transcript summary, and it usually beats the IRS on speed.
If the establishment has closed, changed hands, or can’t locate your records, the IRS is your backup. Every payer files a copy of Form W-2G with the government, so the data sits in the IRS database regardless of what the casino can produce.
Pull the Transcript Through Your IRS Online Account
Sign in at IRS.gov, open the Tax Records page, and select the link for transcripts. Choose Wage and Income Transcript, then the tax year you need. The transcript lists W-2Gs alongside W-2s, 1099s, and similar documents in one report you can view, download, or print immediately.
Account access runs through ID.me, the IRS identity verification provider. You’ll need a government-issued photo ID and a selfie taken from a phone or webcam. If you’ve already registered an IRS online account, you can skip that step and sign straight in. Once your identity is verified, the whole process takes a few minutes.
Request It by Mail With Form 4506-T
If the online system isn’t an option, download Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) from IRS.gov and mail or fax it in. The fields that matter for W-2G records:
- Line 1a–1b: your full legal name as it appeared on the return for that year, plus your Social Security number or ITIN.
- Line 3: your current mailing address, including apartment or suite number.
- Line 8: check this box. It covers Form W-2, the 1099 series, the 1098 series, and the 5498 series, and it’s the line that pulls your gambling income records.
- Tax year: specify the exact year. The wrong year means the wrong records and a fresh request.
Send the completed form to the regional processing center listed in the instructions; the correct address depends on the state where you lived when you filed. Mailed requests generally take up to 10 business days to arrive.
Skip the Automated Phone Line
The IRS automated transcript service at 800-908-9946 only handles tax return transcripts and tax account transcripts. It cannot deliver a Wage and Income Transcript, which is the document that contains your W-2G data. Calling that number for gambling records will get you the wrong document. Use the online account or Form 4506-T instead.
If a Tax Professional Is Pulling It for You
An authorized preparer can retrieve your Wage and Income Transcript through the IRS Transcript Delivery System. They need to be an Electronic Return Originator or a Circular 230 practitioner, and a properly executed Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) or Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization) must be on file with the IRS first.
When the Data Is Available and How Far Back It Goes
Wage and income transcript data for a given tax year generally becomes available in the first week of February following that year. Trying to pull 2025 W-2G information in January 2026 probably won’t work; wait until early February or later for the most complete records.
The IRS keeps wage and income data for up to 10 years, meaning the current year plus nine prior years. For anything older, neither the online system nor Form 4506-T will help, and your only option is whatever records the gambling establishment still has.
What You Actually Receive
A Wage and Income Transcript is not a photocopy of your W-2G. It’s a summary of the key data fields: the payer’s name, the amount you won, any federal tax withheld, and the type of wager. Dollar amounts appear in full, which is what you need for tax preparation.
For security, the IRS masks personally identifiable information on most transcripts. Your Social Security number shows only the last four digits (XXX-XX-1234), and the payer’s address and your name may be partially hidden. The redactions don’t affect your ability to report the income or claim withholding credits. When you request a Wage and Income Transcript specifically for filing purposes, the IRS may provide an unmasked version with all identifying details fully visible.
If You Still Can’t Get the Form, File Anyway
All gambling winnings are taxable whether or not a W-2G was issued, and the form only gets generated when winnings hit specific reporting thresholds. A missing form doesn’t excuse missing income. Report gambling winnings on Schedule 1 of Form 1040 whether or not a W-2G ever reaches you. Because the payer files its copy directly with the IRS, the agency already has the number on file, and a return that doesn’t match will typically draw a notice proposing additional tax.