Quickbooks did not create w2 for inactive employee before migration to online

I'm glad to have you here, @_mt.

Let me direct you to the best possible help to generate the W2 of your inactive employee.

QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) should have generated a W-2 regardless of your employee's employment status if you're utilizing the assisted or full-service as long as they have paycheck records within the year. The same goes for the "Do it Yourself payroll".

With that in mind, I recommend contacting QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) Payroll support to help you navigate your account before migrating to QuickBooks Online (QBO). Here's how:

1. In your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT). Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
2. Choose Contact Us.
3. Type a brief description of your issue, then select Continue.
4. Sign in to your Intuit account. Select Continue and then Continue with my account.
   - If you don't have an account, make sure to Create a new account.
5. We'll email you a single-use code. Enter your code and select Continue.
   - If you have multiple accounts, select the one you want to use and then Continue.
6. Select to chat with us or Have us call you.

You might need help migrating your QBDT Payroll Data to QBO. Check out this article: Move your QuickBooks Desktop Payroll info to QuickBooks Online Payroll (payroll only).

I'll also add this article to help you look for your payroll service: Find your QuickBooks Payroll service.

Don't hesitate to reply to this post for additional questions about generating W2 or moving data. Keep safe always.

QB no longer supported Desktop payroll, so the company had to purchase and migrate to QB online for payroll. At the time we migrated, August 2023, we had both active and inactive employees. In January 2024, QB created and filed W2 forms for only our active employees. We now have 4 inactive employees who did not get W2s. Neither the online or desktop (view only) versions will allow me to now (after the due date, mind you) complete and produce W2 forms for these 4 employees. 

Hello there, @_mt. Allow me to chime in on this thread.

QuickBooks Online (QBO) doesn't generate W-2s for inactive employees. You'll need to make them active first. You can then generate their W-2s if they have the complete information. However, if the employees have incomplete details, I recommend contacting our payroll support team since they can provide you with the best possible assistance about this matter.

Additionally, you can run a payroll report to get a closer look at your business' finances.

If you require further help with generating a W-2 for your employees, please return to this thread. We'll be here to provide you with the support you need.