If the employer refuses (not calling you back is refusing) contact the IRS and there is form you fill out where you explain what happened and approximately what the wages were and they will go after the employer for the taxes. I think the download of W2 is maybe from big employers who are computerized and linked to it. If this is a small employer, like a landscaping business for example, he is probably not linked to the payroll service’s computer.
About 20 years ago, i worked for a small firm that was in chapter 11. We had an agreement that my wages would be a certain amount and they paid me minus the taxes. when tax time came around, they played dumb and told me that taxes were my resonsibility. i know the IRS was already after the owner because they had called a few times looking for him. I filed the form and put down information i knew about the owner and the arrangement we had, and i got my check from the IRS based upon what i told them. they then went after the owner for the taxes. Your husband should tell the employer that he has the right to get the W2 and let them know he has rights, too.