What Is a W-2 Form? How to Read It and When You Should Receive It
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What is a W-2?
A W-2 is a tax form employers send out that reports an employee’s income from the prior year and how much tax was withheld. Employers send out W-2s to employees and the IRS in January.
You should receive a W-2 from every employer that paid you at least $600 during the year. Tip income may be on your W-2. Freelancers or independent contract workers who do not have taxes withheld by an employer get 1099s from their clients, not W-2s.
Understanding your W-2 form
You use the W-2 to help file your tax return. Form W-2 also shows more than just what you were paid. It details how much you contributed to your retirement plan during the year, how much your employer paid for your health insurance, or even what you received in dependent care benefits. All of that data affects your tax picture.
Employers are legally required to send copies of your W-2 to the Social Security Administration and IRS (“Copy A”) and your state and local tax authorities (“Copy 1”). The IRS — and the state, if your state has income taxes — will compare the income you reported on your tax return to the information your employer sent to the government.
When are W-2s sent out?
Jan. 31 is the deadline for employers to mail W-2s to employees and the government. If the date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is pushed to the following business day.
Employers can also send employees their W-2s electronically, but it’s not required. That means you may be able to get yours online.
Even if you quit your job months ago, your ex-employer can still wait until Jan. 31 to send you a W-2 — unless you ask for it earlier, in which case the employer has 30 days to provide it.
How to get your W-2
Your W-2 form should be mailed to you by mid-February. If it doesn't show up, ask your employer for a copy and make sure it has the right address. Your employer may also tell you how to get your W-2 online from the HR department or payroll processor.
If you still haven't received your Form W-2 by the end of February, call the IRS. You’ll need to provide information about when you worked and an estimate of what you were paid.
Remember that your tax return is still due by the tax filing deadline, so if you don't have your W-2, you might need to file for tax extension or estimate your earnings and withholdings to get it done on time. The IRS might delay processing your return — read: refund — while it tries to verify your information.
If your W-2 finally shows up after you already filed your tax return, you might need to go back and amend your tax return with a Form 1040-X.
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How to read your W-2
Box 1: Details how much you were paid in wages, tips, bonuses and other compensation.
Box 2: Shows how much federal income tax was withheld from your pay by your employer.
Box 3: Shows much of your pay in Box 1 was subject to Social Security tax.
Box 4: Shows how much Social Security tax was withheld from your pay.
Box 5: Shows much of your pay in Box 1 was subject to Medicare tax.
Box 6: Shows how much Medicare tax was withheld from your pay.
Box 7: Shows how much of the tip income you reported to your employer (those tips are included in Box 1) was subject to Social Security tax.
Box 8: Shows the amount of other taxable tip income your employer allocated to you. This pay isn't included in Box 1.
Box 10:
Box 11: Generally, this box shows how much money was distributed to you during the year from your employer's deferred compensation plan.
Box 12: Here, there are four areas in which the employer can provide more detail about some or all of the pay reported in Box 1. For example, if you've contributed to your company's 401(k) plan, the amount of your contributions might show up in Box 12 with the code letter "D." There are many codes, which you can see in the IRS' W-2 instructions.
Box 13: This box indicates whether your earnings are subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes but aren't subject to federal income tax withholding, whether you participated in certain types of retirement plans, or whether you got certain kinds of sick pay.
Boxes 16-19: Show how much of your pay is subject to state income tax, how much state income tax was withheld from your pay, how much income was subject to local taxes, and how much local tax was withheld from your pay
If you're looking for a copy of an old W-2 that you attached to a prior tax return and you can't get a copy from the employer that originally issued it, you can request an IRS tax transcript online or use IRS Form 4506 to request a copy of your tax return.
What to do if your W-2 is wrong
If your employer leaves out a decimal point, gets your name or a dollar amount wrong, or checks the wrong box, point out the mistake and ask for a corrected W-2. Waiting for a new W-2 will cost you time, but here’s something that could make you feel better: The IRS might fine your employer if the error involves a dollar amount or “a significant item” in your address.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a W-2 form and a W-4 form?
A W-2 is a document that employers must send or mail to employees by the end of January. It contains a summary of the income earned and the amount of taxes withheld during the prior tax year. Employees use this statement to fill out their tax returns.
A W-4, on the other hand, is a form that employees complete and submit to their employees, typically when they begin a new job. The information an employee provides on a W-4 about their filing status and withholding helps an employer determine how much tax should be withheld on paychecks throughout the year.
What's the difference between a W-2 form and a 1099 form?
W-2s and 1099s are both informational returns that taxpayers use to complete their federal tax returns. An employer sends a W-2 form to employees, which contains a summary of annual income or wages earned and the amount of taxes withheld during the previous tax year. Freelancers, independent contractors, or self-employed people who are not employees typically receive a 1099 form instead of a W-2 form.
Can you file taxes without a W-2?
You are still required to file your tax return on time even if you don’t have your W-2 on hand. If your employer did not issue a W-2 or issued an incorrect form, you can use Form 4852 as a substitute when filing taxes.
