Here's when you can expect your employer to send the form you need to file your taxes for 2018

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Employers must file and postmark W-2 forms by January 31.

• Taxpayers have until Monday, April 15, 2019, to submit their 2018 tax returns.
• You can't file your taxes until you receive your W-2 form from your employer, which must filed and postmarked on or before January 31.
• A recent report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration warned of an increased risk of a delayed start to the 2019 filing season due to the new tax law.

The deadline for filing your 2018 tax returns is Monday, April 15, 2019.

But in order to submit your tax return, you first need a W-2 form, or Wage and Tax statement, from every employer you had during 2018. If you're a freelancer, you'll need 1099 forms.

So when should you expect your employer to send out your W-2 form?

The IRS has yet to release an official announcement, but typically employers must file and postmark tax-related documents by January 31. Therefore, you should receive your forms by early February.

However, a report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration released in September 2018 warned of an increased risk of a delayed start in the 2019 filing season due to the new tax law.

Read more: Tax Day is April 15. Here's what you can expect when filing under the new tax law

If you haven't received your form by mid-February, you should first contact your employer and request a copy or ask that it be resent, according to the IRS. If that doesn't work, you can then contact the IRS at 800-829-1040. You'll need to provide the following information:

• Name, address, Social Security number, and phone number
• Your employer's name, address, and phone number
• Dates you worked for your employer
• An estimate of your paid wages and federal income tax withheld during 2018

If you still don't have your W-2 by April 15, you can use the W-2 substitute, Form 4852, and estimate your wages and withheld taxes. Note that the IRS could delay your refund while verifying the information. You can also file for a six-month extension using the IRS Free File.

If you receive your W-2 after filing and the information is different than what you claimed, you'll need to file an amended tax return using Form 1040X.

Once you file your taxes, you should receive your tax refund within 21 days of filing.

Read more:

• 8 things that could increase your chances of being audited, and how to avoid them

• 10 things you probably didn't know you could deduct on your taxes

• Everything you should be doing to prepare for tax season

• You may be able to cut down your tax bill with a little-known credit if you saved for retirement this year