FAQ's for US Citizens and Resident Aliens - IRS Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement
- What is the purpose of the IRS Form W-2?
- How do I elect to get my W-2 online?
- When will my current Form W-2 be available?
- How do I obtain a duplicate copy of my current or past years W-2's?
- How many years of W-2's are available online?
- Why are my W-2 Box 1 wages less than what I actually earn?
- Why is the IRS requiring that you report the cost of my group health insurance coverage on my Form W-2?
- Does your reporting the cost of my group health insurance coverage on my Form W-2 cause the coverage to be taxable to me?
- I need a corrected W-2 because my address is wrong. How do I get it?
- My name is wrong on my W-2. Do I need a W-2c?
- My Social Security Number is wrong on my W-2. Do I need a W-2c?
- I need my original Form W-2 instead of the downloaded copy. How do I obtain it?
- My Form W-2 doesn't show I had any Maryland local tax withheld. Why not?
- What is the purpose of the IRS Form W-2?
The Form W-2 is an information statement. It is required to be issued each year by an employer to each of its employees to report taxable wages and the taxes that were withheld from your pay. The income is reported for a calendar year. The wage and income tax numbers on Form W-2 are used to prepare your federal and state income tax returns. The W-2 is also used to report Social Security/Medicare taxes to the Social Security Administration.
- How do I elect to get my W-2 online?
- When will my current Form W-2 be available?
Form W-2 is issued no later than the last day of January each year (or February 1st or 2nd if January 31st falls on a weekend).
- How do I obtain a duplicate copy of my current or past years W-2's?
- How many years of W-2's are available online?
Four years. The current tax year is available free of charge and the prior three years are available for a fee.
- Why are my W-2 Box 1 wages less than what I actually earn?
This could be a result of pre-tax items such as medical, dental and disability insurance premiums, flexible spending accounts and parking. These items are not included in W-2 taxable wages.
- Why is the IRS requiring that you report the cost of my group health insurance coverage on my Form W-2?
The reporting is required under a section of the Code that was added to the law by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 ( i.e., health care reform). According to the IRS, the reporting provides “useful and comparable consumer information to employees on the cost of their health care coverage.”
- Does your reporting the cost of my group health insurance coverage on my Form W-2 cause the coverage to be taxable to me?
No. The reporting on an employee's Form W-2 is for his or her information only. The reporting is intended to inform the employee of the cost of health care coverage, and does not cause the health care coverage to become taxable.
- I need a corrected W-2 because my address is wrong. How do I get it?
W-2's are not corrected for address changes. Just make sure you use your correct home address on your federal and state income tax returns. Contact your Departmental Payroll Administrator to update your address in your payroll record.
- My name is wrong on my W-2. Do I need a W-2c?
Yes. The Tax Office will need a copy of your Social Security Card to prepare your Form W-2c correcting your name.
- My Social Security Number is wrong on my W-2. Do I need a W-2c?
Yes. The Tax Office will need a copy of your Social Security Card to prepare your Form W-2c correcting your Social Security Number.
Tax Office
3910 Keswick Road
North Building N4327-B
Baltimore, MD 21211
Fax (443)997-8538 - I need my original Form W-2 instead of the downloaded copy. How do I obtain it?
The online Form W-2 is your original form and that is all that is required.
- My Form W-2 doesn't show I had any Maryland local tax withheld. Why not?
Maryland local tax is added to your Maryland state tax, so the total of both are reported in Box 17 on your Form W-2.
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