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Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement Works & How to Get One in the Form of IRS
Form W-2 is much more than a piece of paper; it’s one of most significant documents you’ll need when it comes to taxes. This is what a W-2 is, how to read it, and how to acquire you’re W-2.
What is a Form W-2?
The IRS Form W-2, also known as the “Wage and Tax Statements,” reports an employee’s earnings from the previous year, the amount of tax withheld by the employer, and other data. In January, employers issue Form W-2s to employees and a copy to the IRS. Form W-2 is used by workers to prepare their tax records.
- Every employee that pays you at least $600 per year is required to present you with a W-2 form and to send copies to the IRS and the state. Tip money may be reported on your W-2.
- A W-2 should not be confused with a W-4, which is the document you use to advise your employer how much tax to deduct from your paycheck each monthly payment learn how withholding taxes work.
- Freelancers and contract employees receive 1099s from their customers rather than W-2s.
Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement Works & How to Get One in the Form of IRS
How do I get my Form W-2?
If you need a copy of an old Form W-2 that you submitted to a previous tax return but can’t acquire it from the business that issued it, you can ask an IRS tax transcription online or even use IRS Form 4506 to request a copy of your tax return.
If your W-2 form for the present year hasn’t arrived in the mail before Valentine’s Day, contact your business for a copy and double-check that the address is correct.
Your employer may also instruct you on how to obtain your W-2 from the Employee or payroll processing online.
If it doesn’t work, contact the IRS here’s a list of IRS contact numbers. You must provide data about when you worked as well as an estimation of how much you were paid.
- Remember that your tax forms is still needed by the time, so if you don’t receive your W-2, you may need to approximate your earnings and withholdings to complete it on time. For additional information on obtaining an extension, go here.
- The IRS may postpone filing your return – i.e., your return while it verifies your data.
- If your W-2 arrives when you’ve already completed your tax return, you may have to go back and change it.
Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement Works
When should I receive my Form W-2?
Employers are required by the IRS to provide W-2s to the government and employees by January 31 or suffer consequences. The IRS describes provide as “getting it in the mail,” so you should receive yours the first week in February.
Employers can also provide W-2s to employees online, but it is not required. That means you might be able to order one online.
Even if you left your job months ago, your ex-company can still send you a W-2 until January 31 — unless you request it earlier, in which situation the employer has 30 days to do something about and provide it.
Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement Works & How to Get One in the Form of IRS
You have to need your Form W-2 to do your taxes:-
Your Form W-2 reveals how much money you got from your employer the preceding year, and how much withholding tax your paid on that money.
Many consumers depend on the information on their W-2 to determine if they will receive a refund or write a check when it comes to tax time. You’ll need it to fill out a lot of the stuff on your tax return.
How does Form W-2 works?
The Form W-2 is used to file your tax return. Form W-2 discloses more than just your pay. It also includes information such as how much you invested to your retirement plan during the year, how much your company paid for your medical insurance, and how much you received in family care benefits.
All of that information has an impact on your tax situation; for example, your retirement payments may not be taxable.
Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement Works & How to Get One in the Form of IRS
Box 1: contains information about how much you were paid in salaries, tips, and other forms of compensation.
Box 2: Displays the amount of federal income tax taken from your salary.
Box 3: Indicates how much of your earnings in Box 1 were subject to Social Security tax.
Box 4: Indicates how much Social Security tax was deducted from your pay.
Box 5: Indicates how much of your income in Box 1 was subject to Payroll tax.
Box 6: Displays the amount of Medicare tax taken from your pay.
Box 7: Indicates how much of the tip revenue you reported to your employer was due to Social Security tax tips are included in Box 1.
Box 8: Displays the amount of extra tips your employer gave you. Box 1 does not include this remuneration. Find out how to declare tips on your tax return.
Box 10: Displays the amount of family care benefits paid to you or incurred on your behalf by your employer. Anything over $5,000 or $2,500 if married and filing separately is often included within box 1.
Box 11: In general, this box appears how much funds was distributed to you from your employer’s deferred pay package during the year.
Box 12: There are four main areas where the employee can offer additional information about any or all of the remuneration reported in Box 1.
For instance, if you participated to your company’s 401(k) plan, the amount of your contributions may appear in Box 12 with the code symbol “D.” There are numerous codes, which can be found in the IRS’s W-2 guidelines.
Box 13: Specifies if your earnings are due to Social Security and Medicare taxes but not to income tax withholding, if you engaged in certain types of retirement accounts, or if you received certain types of sick pay.
Boxes 16-19: Indicate how much of your pay is due to state income tax, how much state income tax was taken from your pay, how much revenue is due to municipal taxes, and how much local tax was taken from your pay.
Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement Works & How to Get One in the Form of IRS
What will have to do if your Form W-2 is wrong?
If your employer omits a decimal point, misspells your name or enters the wrong dollar amount, or clicks the wrong box — it happens – point out the error and request a corrected W-2.
You’ll waste time pointing out the error and waiting for a fresh W-2, but here’s something that might produce positive outcomes: If the error involves a dollar figure or a major item in your address, the IRS may levy a penalty on your employer.
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Conclusion:
You won’t have to deal with anything if you simply place your W-2 in a box and choose not to include it on your tax return.Employers are required by law to provide copies of your W-2 to the Social Security Administration(SSA) and the Internal Revenue Service Copy A, as well as your state and local tax authorities Copy 1.
After comparing the income you recorded on your tax return to the data your employer gave to the government, the IRS as well as the state, if your state levies income taxes will most likely send you a harsh letter and a few months of hassles.