What is Form W-2?

Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, is provided by your employer after the end of the tax year. It includes important information such as:
  • Your wages, salary, tips, and other compensation
  • Federal income tax withheld
  • Social Security wages and taxes withheld
  • Medicare wages and taxes withheld
  • State and local wages and tax withholdings (if applicable)
  • Contributions to retirement plans, health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), dependent care benefits, and other employer-sponsored programs
Most employees receive a W-2 from each employer they worked for during the year.

How Do I Enter a Form W-2 in My Account?

If you received a W-2, enter it by following these steps:
  1. Select Federal.
  2. Select Income (Select My Forms).
  3. Select W-2 (Begin).
Enter the information exactly as it appears on your W-2 to help ensure your tax return is accurate.

How Do I Add Another W-2?

If you worked for more than one employer during the year, or if you need to enter a W-2 for your spouse on a joint return, follow these steps:
  1. Select Federal.
  2. Select Income (Select My Forms).
  3. Select W-2 (Add/Edit).
  4. Select Add a W-2 Wage Statement (the green plus sign above the W-2 entries).
Repeat these steps for each additional W-2.

How Do I Enter My Spouse's W-2?

The program does not separate W-2 entry screens for the taxpayer and spouse.
To add your spouse's W-2:
  1. Select Add a W-2 Wage Statement.
  2. Enter the W-2 information.
  3. Indicate whether the W-2 belongs to you or your spouse when prompted.
Make sure each W-2 is assigned to the correct person on a joint return.

Can I Enter My Dependent's W-2?

No. A dependent's W-2 cannot be entered on your tax return.

If your dependent earned income, they may need to file their own tax return depending on their income and filing requirements. Review the current IRS filing requirements for dependents or use the IRS Interactive Assistant to determine whether a separate return is necessary.

Can I Import or Upload My W-2?

Yes. You can upload a PDF copy of your W-2 instead of entering the information manually.
 
To upload your W-2:
  1. Navigate to the W-2 section using the steps above.
  2. Enter the employer's EIN.
  3. Choose how you would like to enter your W-2 information.
  4. Select either:
    • Upload a PDF copy of your W-2, or
    • Manually enter the information from your form.

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Additional Information About Entering a W-2

Employee Name Cannot Be Edited

The Employee's Name field is automatically populated using the information entered in the Basic Information section of your return and cannot be edited within the W-2 entry screen.

Employer Name Length Errors

If your employer's name exceeds the character limit, shorten the name while keeping the most important identifying information.

The IRS primarily matches W-2 forms using the employer's EIN, so the employer name does not need to match your paper form exactly as long as it remains recognizable.

No State Information on the W-2

If your W-2 does not report state wages or state withholding, leave Boxes 15 through 20 blank when entering your form.

Missing State Employer ID Number

If your W-2 includes state wages or state tax withholding, you must enter the employer's state ID number.

If the state ID number is missing from your W-2, contact your employer before filing your return.

W-2 Copies in Your Tax Return PDF

The PDF copy of your completed tax return will not include an official copy of your W-2.

Instead, it contains a replica based on the information entered into the program. Your original W-2 remains the official tax document provided by your employer.

Need to Enter More Than One W-2?

That's common. Many taxpayers work multiple jobs during the year or file jointly with a spouse who also received a W-2. Simply use the Add a W-2 Wage Statement option to enter each form separately. Entering all of your W-2s ensures your income and tax withholding are reported correctly and helps prevent processing delays with the IRS.
 

Review Your W-2 Information Before Filing

Whether you upload a PDF copy of your W-2 or enter the information manually, it's important to review all imported and entered data carefully. While uploading can save time, information may not always transfer exactly as it appears on your form. Taking a few moments to compare the information in the program to your actual W-2 can help reduce data-entry errors and prevent filing issues later.

Before you e-file your return, we also recommend reviewing the printed copy of your tax return. This gives you an opportunity to double-check your income, withholding, personal information, and other tax details. Your return will be submitted to the IRS exactly as it appears in the final version, so a thorough review can help you catch mistakes before filing.

A quick review now can save time and help avoid delays, notices, or the need to amend your return later.

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While TaxSlayer strives to make the information and links contained in our KB articles as timely and accurate as possible, we make no promise or guarantee about the timeliness, accuracy, or completeness of the contents on these pages. The information contained in the Knowledgebase (KB) is for general information only and is not intended to be tax, financial, or legal advice. The user is encouraged to review additional state and federal resources and publications as needed.

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