The W-2 Wage and Tax Statement form reports an employee’s annual wages, and the taxes withheld from them. Employers provide employees with a W-2 form no later than January 31, one month after the close of the tax year which is usually December 31. Employers keep a copy of the W-2 for their records, and send other copies to the employee, the social security administration, the IRS, and state and local governments that require tax withholdings.

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Here is some information employers will need to fill out the W-2 form:  
 

  • Employee’s name, address, and Social Security Number

  • Employer Identification Number (also called a federal tax ID number)

  • Employer’s name, address, zip code

  • Employee’s wages, tips and compensation (including non-qualified retirement plans)

  • Amount of federal income tax withheld from these wages

  • Employee’s social security wages, and the amount of social security tax withheld

  • Employee’s Medicare wages, and the amount of Medicare tax withheld

  • Amount of tips the employee received and reported

  • Any advance Earned Income Tax Credit payments

  • Any dependent care benefits

  • Information on state and local income and taxes


You can find more W-2 tax filing instructions for employers through the IRS, or go straight to the W-2 form.


For more information about business taxes, go to www.irs.gov.

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