Can I file taxes if employer used my nickname on W-2 form?

You should be fine filing with a nickname on your W-2 as long as your Social Security number is correct. The IRS primarily matches your tax return to your W-2 using your SSN, not your name. The name discrepancy between your legal name and nickname shouldn't cause issues since the IRS systems can typically handle minor name variations. If you're using tax software, it will ask for your information exactly as it appears on your Social Security card (your legal name), but you'll enter your W-2 information exactly as it appears on the W-2 form (with your nickname). The software should handle this correctly. For future reference, it would be good to have your employer update their payroll records with your legal name, but you don't need to stress about getting a corrected W-2 for this tax season if your SSN is correct now.

I went through something similar with a misspelled name on my W-2 last year. Instead of dealing with HR again (they were useless the first time), I tried using this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me figure out how to properly report the discrepancy. Their document analysis tool confirmed what the first commenter said - as long as your SSN is correct, the nickname shouldn't be a major issue. The system analyzed my documents and gave me personalized guidance for my situation which made me feel a lot better about filing. They even have tax professionals who can review special situations like this.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. I was nervous about my name situation (married name on W-2, maiden name on SS card), but their document analysis tool was super helpful! It confirmed that filing with the SSN match was the key thing. They even gave me specific notes about how to file with this discrepancy and what to do if I got any questions from the IRS later. My return was accepted without issues! Definitely gave me peace of mind without having to pay for a full tax service.

If you do end up needing to talk to the IRS about name discrepancies (which probably won't be necessary, but just in case), I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I had a similar issue last year and needed to speak with someone at the IRS, but kept getting the "call volume too high" message for WEEKS. Claimyr got me through to an actual human at the IRS in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with confirmed that nicknames on W-2s aren't a big deal as long as the SSN matches. She even told me they see this ALL the time, especially with small businesses.

Well I need to eat some humble pie here. After being skeptical about Claimyr, I was desperate enough to try it when I couldn't get through to the IRS about an issue with my amended return. Not only did it actually work, but I got connected to an IRS agent in about 40 minutes! The agent told me that name discrepancies like nicknames vs. legal names are super common and not a big deal as long as the SSN matches. She also helped resolve my amended return issue which had been hanging over my head for months. Sometimes being wrong feels pretty darn good!

I've worked in HR for years, and this happens ALL the time. Many payroll systems just use whatever name the person goes by day-to-day. The key is 100% the SSN matching. I've never seen the IRS reject a return solely because of a nickname vs legal name issue when the SSN was correct.

I think everyone is overcomplicating this. I've filed with nicknames on my documents for YEARS and never had an issue. Bill instead of William, etc. The IRS seriously doesn't care as long as your numbers match up!!!

I'm dealing with a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My employer put "Mike" on my W-2 instead of "Michael" and I was panicking about having to get it corrected. Reading all these responses from people who've actually been through this gives me so much peace of mind. It sounds like as long as my SSN is correct (which it is), I should be able to file without any issues. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - sometimes real-world examples are worth more than official guidance!

As someone who's worked in tax preparation for over a decade, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - nickname vs legal name discrepancies are incredibly common and rarely cause issues with the IRS. The system is designed to handle these variations because they happen so frequently, especially with small businesses where the owner knows everyone personally. Your SSN being correct is absolutely the most critical factor. The IRS matching system primarily relies on that nine-digit number to connect your return to your W-2. I've seen returns processed successfully with much more significant name variations than typical nicknames. Since you already went through the hassle of getting your SSN corrected, you're in good shape. Don't stress about asking your boss for another correction - file with confidence using your legal name on the return and the W-2 information exactly as it appears. The worst case scenario would be a simple correspondence from the IRS asking for clarification, which is easily resolved, but that's unlikely to happen.

I'm so grateful for all the detailed responses here! As someone new to filing taxes (this is only my second year), I was really stressed about this whole situation. Between the SSN issue I already dealt with and now the nickname thing, I felt like everything was going wrong. But reading everyone's experiences - especially from people in HR and tax prep - has been incredibly reassuring. It sounds like the consensus is clear: file with my legal name on the return, enter the W-2 info exactly as it appears (with my nickname), and the IRS matching system will handle it just fine since my SSN is correct. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their real-world experiences rather than just theoretical advice. Sometimes you need to hear "I've actually done this and it worked" to feel confident about moving forward! I think I'm going to go ahead and file as-is. My boss has already been so patient with the SSN correction, and it sounds like this really isn't worth putting her through another round of paperwork. Thanks again everyone - this community is amazing!

I just want to add another voice of reassurance here! I'm a small business owner who handles payroll, and I can tell you that this situation happens constantly. Most of my employees go by nicknames or shortened versions of their names in day-to-day work, and that's what ends up on their W-2s because that's how I know them. The IRS is well aware that small businesses operate this way. They've built their systems to accommodate the reality that people don't always use their full legal names in workplace settings. As long as the SSN matches (which yours does now), you're golden. I've had employees file successfully with names like "Joe" instead of "Joseph," "Liz" instead of "Elizabeth," and even someone who goes by their middle name entirely. Never once has it caused a problem with tax returns being processed. You're absolutely right not to burden your boss with another W-2 correction - she's probably dealing with a mountain of year-end paperwork as it is. File with confidence and don't give this another thought!