Tax advisor, Tax Audit, Tax Audit Help

Attention Employees

February 6, 2014 - Tax advisor, Tax Audit, Tax Audit Help

Attention Employees: This is the blog I promised you. . You are required to attach your W2 to your tax return when you file this important once-a-year tax form. Every year you have the chance to “look yourself in the eye” and sign your tax return under penalty of perjury that it is correct and accurate. .. If you don’t already have your W2 for 2013, you should be getting this important form very soon. Employers are required to issue their W2 forms by January 31st. .. Did you move since you were first employed? Does your employer have your correct current address? Did your employer go out of business during the year? Did they pay their accountant in advance to issue the year-end W2 forms? They probably did not.  On payday did you get a paystub showing the cumulative, or year-to-date income earned and taxes withheld? Did you keep track of these numbers yourself? Most people won’t but it is a good idea. .. Did you have more than one job during the year? Do you have a W2 from EACH of your jobs? You must report your total income from all taxable sources. What can you do if you don’t have this required for filing form? .. If you have not received your W2 by February 14th, you can call the IRS for assistance. When you dial 1-800-829-1040, be prepared to wait on hold. It could be a long wait. This is a toll-free number and they get a lot of callers. The assistor at the Internal Revenue Service will ask you for your name, your address with zip code and your social security number. (Remember YOU called them.  DO NOT (and I MEAN EVER!) give this confidential information to any one who calls you. Protect your identity.)  The IRS will also ask for your employer’s name, complete address, phone number and your dates of employment. IRS will contact your employer for you (if that is possible) and will request the missing form for you. Form 4852, Substitute for W2, was designed for just this purpose. When you call the IRS to request their help, they will send you this form. There are blanks for you to fill in your wages and withholdings. It will ask you how you determined the amounts you are entering. It will also ask you to describe what you did to try to obtain your W2. If you did receive a W2, was it correct? If you think it was not correct, contact your employer and request a corrected one, a W2-C.  If you filed your tax return using Form 4852 and then received a W2 or W2-C showing different amounts, then you must file Form 1040X to amend your return. This amendment may result in you owing more tax or it may result in you getting a refund. Consult your tax professional for help filing this more complicated form.