Are my Y-T-D deductions on my paystub showing from both jobs I worked this year?

So if I work 3 different jobs in a single year, I'll get 3 separate W-2s? And none of the Y-T-D info crosses over between them? Also, should I be saving more for taxes if I've had multiple jobs?

Yes, you'll receive a separate W-2 from each employer you worked for during the tax year. None of the Y-T-D information crosses over between different employers - each one only reports what you earned with them. Regarding saving more, it's generally a good idea if you've worked multiple jobs, especially if they were at the same time rather than consecutively. This is because each employer withholds taxes as if their paycheck is your only income, potentially leading to underwithholding when all your income is combined. If you want to be safe, you can adjust your W-4 at your current job to withhold additional amounts, or set aside some savings for potential taxes due.

Does it actually explain which deductions might be duplicated across jobs? I switched jobs twice this year and I'm worried about my tax situation.

I'm kinda skeptical about these tax tools. Can it actually help predict if I'll owe money at tax time based on having two jobs? My current paystub looks way off compared to what I think I should have paid in taxes so far.

It identifies potential duplicate withholdings across jobs, especially things like Social Security taxes which have a maximum annual contribution. The analysis shows if you're approaching or have exceeded the Social Security wage base limit across combined employers. The tool is particularly good at tax liability prediction with multiple income sources. You upload your paystubs and it calculates your projected total tax situation, comparing current withholdings against estimated final tax obligation. This helped me discover I was under-withheld by about $1,200 after job-hopping, giving me time to adjust my W-4 for the remainder of the year.

How does this actually work? I tried calling the IRS directly last week about my withholding issues and gave up after an hour on hold.

Yeah right. There's no way to skip the IRS phone queue. Everyone has to wait. This sounds like a scam that will take your money and leave you on hold anyway.

It works by using a technology that navigates the IRS phone system and holds your place in line. When an agent becomes available, it calls you and connects you directly to that agent. It's essentially like having someone wait on hold for you. I was definitely skeptical too at first. But after wasting entire afternoons trying to get through on my own, I was desperate. It's not about "skipping" the queue - you still wait your turn, but you don't have to personally sit through the hold music. The system does the waiting for you and calls when an actual human is on the line. Saved me from the endless "your call is important to us" messages that were driving me insane.

What do you do if you find a discrepancy between your final paystub and W-2? Do you contact the old employer or the IRS?

You should first contact the employer's payroll department to point out the discrepancy and request a corrected W-2 (called a W-2c). Most errors are honest mistakes they'll fix once you show them the proof from your paystub. If they refuse or don't respond after a couple of attempts, then you should contact the IRS. You'll file Form 4852 (Substitute for W-2) with your tax return, using your paystub information as verification. Keep copies of all your communication with the employer showing you tried to resolve it first. The IRS may contact your employer about the discrepancy.

But isn't it actually good to have too much withheld? I always try to get a big refund so I don't owe anything at tax time.