» » What is a Form W-2? What Do You Do if You Haven't Received One Yet? The W-2 is the primary tax form for most working Americans. Here's what you need to know about it.

What is a Form W-2? What Do You Do if You Haven't Received One Yet? The W-2 is the primary tax form for most working Americans. Here's what you need to know about it.

What is a Form W-2? What Do You Do if You Haven't Received One Yet? The W-2 is the primary tax form for most working Americans. Here's what you need to know about it.

This story is a part of Taxes 2023, CNET’s protection of one of the best tax software program, tax suggestions and every thing else you should file your return and observe your refund.

Kind W-2 is the commonest IRS tax kind for many Individuals. It is also one essentially the most important, exhibiting your whole employment earnings for the earlier 12 months, in addition to the quantity of taxes that had been withheld.

Most full-time staff have to obtain a W-2 from their employers earlier than they’ll even begin finishing their return, and firms had been required to challenge them by Jan. 31, 2023.

However what occurs in the event you did not get yours?

Learn extra: Finest Tax Software program for 2023

What’s a W-2 kind?

Kind W-2, or “Wage and Tax Assertion,” is the official document of your wages and withheld taxes from the earlier 12 months.

The shape may also embrace:

  • Ideas and different types of compensation
  • Contributions to a retirement plan, like a 401(ok) 
  • Contributions to a well being financial savings account
  • The price of your well being care advantages

Whether or not you do your taxes on paper, in your laptop or telephone or with a skilled tax preparer, you will want to make use of info from Kind W-2 to finish your return.

What info is included in my W-2 kind?

Here is a fast breakdown of the entire bins and knowledge on the W-2:

Bins A-F: The lettered bins on the highest and left facet of the doc include figuring out info for each you and your employer, together with authorized title, deal with, your Social Safety quantity and the tax identification variety of your employer. (The “management quantity” is only a distinctive ID for figuring out your W-2 in your employer’s system.)

Bins 1 and a pair of: These two bins have an important info for many taxpayers — your whole wages, suggestions and different compensation, and the entire federal earnings tax that was withheld for the 12 months.

Bins three via 6: These bins present how a lot of your earnings is topic to Social Safety and Medicare taxes, in addition to how a lot taxes you paid for each.

Bins 7 and eight: When you obtain compensation by suggestions, these two bins present how a lot tip earnings you reported, and the way a lot your employer reported in suggestions paid to you. 

Field 9: Don’t be concerned in regards to the mysteriously grayed-out Field 9. It was previously used for reporting advance funds for the Earned Revenue Credit score. That tax perk resulted in 2010, but the field stays.

Bins 10 and 11: Field 10 exhibits any dependent care advantages you will have acquired, whereas Field 11 accommodates any deferred compensation. 

Field 12: This field accommodates extra compensation or reductions to taxable earnings, and 28 doable objects may be included right here, every designated by a single or double-letter code. A few of these codes must be included in your tax return, whereas others are solely to your info.

Field 13: Three choices right here present earnings that is not topic to federal tax: employer-sponsored retirement plan (like a 401(ok) account), third-party sick pay (resembling non-public insurance coverage), or cash earned as a statutory worker.

Field 14: This field acts as a catch-all to your employer to report any extra tax info, resembling tuition help or union dues. Employers may also embrace sure state and native taxes right here. 

One frequent Field 14 entry is cost for state incapacity insurance coverage, which may be deductible for some taxpayers.

Bins 15 via 20: The bins on the backside of your W-2 kind present your earnings and withholding knowledge for the tax 12 months as they relate to your state taxes. That part additionally contains your employer’s state ID quantity.

When will I obtain my Kind W-2?

You need to have acquired your Kind W-2 by Jan. 31, 2023. That is when employers are required by legislation to ship W-2s to all workers and the IRS. 

Whereas many corporations nonetheless ship W-2 types via the mail, many additionally make them out there on-line. Your W-2 kind may come from a 3rd occasion that handles your organization’s payroll, resembling ADP or Gusto.

What ought to I do if I did not get my W-2?

Be certain that your employer hasn’t emailed you directions on the way to entry your W-2 kind on-line. In line with IRS Publication 15A, employers can present digital variations of W-2 types if workers decide in. (Remember to test your spam and junk folders in case the e-mail wound up there.)

When you weren’t despatched directions, contact your human assets or payroll division to ask in regards to the standing of your W-2. You may also contact them in the event you misplaced a W-2 you had been despatched.

In case your employer is not useful, you’ll be able to contact the IRS immediately at 800-829-1040. The company will contact your employer and request your lacking W-2 kind for you.

The IRS recommends ready till the top of February to see in case your W-2 arrives earlier than contacting them. You may have to have some info able to confirm your id:

  • Your authorized title, deal with, Social Safety quantity and telephone quantity
  • Your employer’s title, deal with and telephone quantity
  • The dates you labored for the employer
  • Estimates of wages and earnings tax withheld. (You’ll find this in your final paycheck of the 12 months.)

When you nonetheless do not obtain or cannot entry your W-2 kind by April 18, you’ll be able to file your tax return by utilizing Kind 4852, an alternative choice to the W-2 that allows you to estimate your earnings and withholding tax.  When you discover out later that the data in your return is totally different out of your W-2, you will have to file an amended return.

You may also file Kind 4868 and ask for a six-month submitting extension that provides you with extra time to trace down your W-2. When you do not assume you owe any taxes, you do not have to pay something. When you do owe taxes, you will have to pay an estimated quantity while you file your extension or danger a penalty later.

For extra tax suggestions, find out about massive tax adjustments in 2023 and necessary tax credit for owners.

author-Orbit Brain
Orbit Brain
Orbit Brain is the senior science writer and technology expert. Our aim provides the best information about technology and web development designing SEO graphics designing video animation tutorials and how to use software easy ways
and much more. Like Best Service Latest Technology, Information Technology, Personal Tech Blogs, Technology Blog Topics, Technology Blogs For Students, Futurism Blog.

Finance Related Articles