Just got your first W-2? Here’s what it means

A W-2 document is the latest early document that you receive in January or early February which has a lot of information about how much you earned in pay and benefits from your job over the previous 12 months. The numbers on the W-2 gives information about how much of your income is taxable and also how much tax you have already paid. A copy will be sent by your employer to you and the IRS so that everyone has the information.

Let's see the contents of a W-2 form in detail

While working in America you are responsible for paying federal, social tax and medicare.

Box 2 – Federal Income Tax Withheld

Box 4 – Social Security Tax Withheld

Box 6 – Medicare Tax Withheld

When working in an organisation your employer holds part if each paycheck and will be sent to the government to cover your tax bill during the year. These are your withholdings.

When too much was held out, you will get a refund, and if there wasn't enough held you will have to pay the difference.

Note: you might also need to pay state and local taxes in addition to federal taxes. These are different for each state. Find out about the tax laws in your state.

“What should I do with my W-2?”

Use the information on your W-2 to fill out your income tax return, We will guide you step-by-step through your tax return and ask you very basic questions to get you from start to finish.

The tax filing due date is April 15th and you will have to submit your tax returns before the due date. The IRS begins accepting returns on January 28th. Returns are processed immediately. If you are owed a refund, then the earlier you submit your return, the earlier you will get your money from the IRS.

If your W-2 was sent to you by email, you should print a copy for your records. You’ll need to hang on to this and your other tax documents for three years after you file your return.

“How do I get money back for my taxes?”

To figure out if you can get money back (a.k.a. a tax refund) you will need to file a tax return. The information you enter on your tax return will determine whether you withheld too much, too little, or just enough to cover the taxes you owe. If too much was withheld, you will receive a refund.

As you are filing your tax return, you will use tax credits and deductions to lower your tax liability (the amount you must pay for taxes). This can help you get more money back in your refund. The benefit of filing your return with One Tax Path is that you are guaranteed to get all the tax breaks (that means credits and deductions) you deserve. The program will automatically apply them if you qualify. You don’t have to be a tax expert – you just need to enter all your information.

Is this your first time filing a tax return? Here is some basic information about why and how to file taxes.

“How do I read my W-2?”

Your W-2 shows a lot of information about your earnings, your benefits, how much tax you have paid, and how much you still owe. The info on this form is very important, and you’ll need to enter it exactly as it appears when you complete your return.

Here is what the boxes on your W-2 mean:

Box A – This is your Social Security number

Box B – This is your employer’s identification number (EIN)

Box C – This is the name and address of your employer

Box D – This box is optional. It may or may not include code from your employer.

Box E – This should be your legal name

Box F – This should be your legal address

Box 1 — This is your total wages plus other compensation for the year.

Box 2 — This is the amount of federal income tax that was withheld from your paycheck for the year.

Box 3 — This number shows how much of your income was subject to Social Security tax.

Box 4 — This is how much Social Security tax was withheld from your paycheck for the year.

Box 5 — This number shows how much of your wages were subject to Medicare tax.

Box 6 — This is how much Medicare tax was withheld from your paycheck for the year.

Box 7 — If you reported tips to your employer, that amount is shown here.

Box 8 — If your employer allocates tips, to you that amount is shown here.

Box 10 — If you get dependent care benefits from your employer, this amount is shown here.

Box 12 – Your employer can enter a code (or codes) in Box 12 to indicate things like adoption benefits, contributions to an HSA account, nontaxable sick pay, uncollected Social Security or Medicare taxes, etc. If you are unsure what a code means, you can ask your employer or find the description on the list of codes attached to the W-2 form here.

Box 13 — If the “Retirement plan” box is checked Box 3, it means that special limits may apply to the amount of traditional IRA contributions you can deduct.

Box 14 — This box can account for lots of different things, like union dues, health insurance premiums, nontaxable income, and education assistance payments. Your employer can put any description they choose in this box. There aren’t specific codes, so if you are confused about the info in this section, ask your employer for more clarity.

“How do I get my W-2?”

Employers are required to send out W-2s to their employees on or before January 31st. If you haven’t gotten one and it is after January 31st, you can request one from your employer or the IRS. Can’t contact your company? Here’s how you can file if you don’t have a W-2.

Note: If you are self-employed, you won’t receive a W-2. Your income gets reported on a Form 1099 instead.

Ready to file? You don’t have to do it alone. One Tax Path has your back.