Thanks for mentioning this! I didn't even think to check if our employers offer early online access to W-2s. I'll definitely look into that right away. Is there any difference between the electronic version and the paper one that gets mailed out?

The electronic and paper W-2s contain exactly the same information - they're just delivered differently. The electronic version is official and can be used to file your taxes just like the paper copy. The advantage is you typically get access to it 1-2 weeks earlier than waiting for mail delivery. Just log into your company's HR portal or payroll system and look for a tax documents section. Some employers require you to specifically opt-in for electronic W-2 delivery, so check that setting too. If you can't find it, ask your HR department - they'll point you in the right direction.

Yep! Same with my company's fitness subsidy. They reimburse my gym membership but it counts as taxable income that only appears on W-2. Also, if you have company stock or RSUs that vested, those calculations can be super complex and often don't appear accurately on regular pay stubs.

That's a great idea! I think they used ADP actually. Do you know if there's a general customer service number for employees to contact them or would I need a specific account number?

For ADP, try calling their W2 services line at 800-247-3237. You'll need to verify your identity with your SSN and some other basic info. If you had an online account with them previously, you might still be able to log in at https://my.adp.com even if you no longer work there. If you don't know what service they used, try asking former coworkers if you're still in touch with any. Even if you don't have an account number, most payroll providers can look you up by SSN and previous employer.

Some lenders do look at gross income before certain deductions. Self-employed people especially get evaluated differently. My mortgage broker wanted to see my gross contractual income rather than just what showed up on my tax return after all the deductions.

That makes sense for self-employed people, but OP mentioned a W2 which typically means they're an employee. For W2 employees, lenders usually just want Line 1 of the 1040 or Box 1 of the W2. Pre-tax retirement contributions don't usually get added back in unless the loan is borderline and they need to squeeze out a bit more qualifying income. If they're trying to qualify for a specific loan amount, they might want to know the maximum income they can claim. But generally, mortgage underwriters follow pretty standardized guidelines for W2 employees.

23 Do you use any specific apps to track expenses? I've been just keeping physical receipts in a shoebox and I know there's got to be a better way lol.

19 I use QuickBooks Self-Employed and it's been a lifesaver. You can link your business accounts and credit cards, then just swipe right or left to categorize transactions as business or personal. It also has a mileage tracker that runs in the background on your phone. Another good option is Expensify if you don't need full accounting software. Wave is a free alternative that a lot of people like too. Anything is better than the shoebox method! I missed so many deductions my first year because receipts got lost or I forgot what expenses were for.

8 Do you know what the threshold is for when you need to make quarterly payments? Like is there a minimum amount you need to earn?

Would this still happen if the two jobs are in different states? I'm considering taking a remote position while keeping my current job, but they're in different states and I'm worried about triggering something like this.

Yes, it would still likely trigger a flag even with jobs in different states. The IRS systems look at the total reported income under your SSN regardless of which states the W2s come from. In fact, having W2s from multiple states might make it even more likely to trigger their identity theft algorithms. For your remote position situation, just be prepared to potentially deal with this verification process. It's not a huge problem, just an extra step. Also be aware you'll need to file state tax returns for both states in most cases, which adds some complexity to your tax situation.

Which software did you use to file? I'm wondering if certain tax software handles multiple W2s better than others to avoid triggering these flags.

Thanks for bringing this up! I am actually already working as a CNA at a hospital that's helping with some tuition reimbursement once I start. Would that change anything about how I should be looking at these expenses? The hospital benefits coordinator mentioned something about "work-related education" but I wasn't sure what she meant.

That definitely opens up more possibilities! Since you're already working in healthcare as a CNA, some of your nursing education expenses might qualify as work-related education expenses if they maintain or improve skills needed in your current employment. The downside is that after the tax law changes in 2018, work-related education expenses are much harder to deduct for employees. However, your tuition reimbursement situation is really important to consider. If your employer is providing tuition assistance, up to $5,250 per year can be excluded from your income if it's part of a qualified educational assistance program. Any amount over that would be taxable unless it qualifies as a working condition fringe benefit.

Wow, that's actually really smart. I'm gonna try that with my dental hygiene program. Did you just talk to the regular financial aid office or did you have to reach someone specific?