Can an employer mail W-2s for different people in the same envelope?

This is definitely unusual compared to how most employers handle tax documents. It's like if your doctor sent your medical results along with your roommate's just because you share an address - not quite right. While I don't think there's a specific IRS regulation that prohibits this exactly, it's generally considered a privacy best practice to send tax documents individually, even to the same address. Most companies I've worked for would never combine W-2s in one envelope, even for married couples.

While technically not illegal in most cases, this is generally considered poor practice from a privacy and security standpoint. You might want to contact your HR department immediately to express your concerns. If you're particularly worried about this, you could potentially report this to your state's labor department, as some states have stricter privacy regulations than federal law. Alternatively, you might consider requesting that next year's W-2 be delivered electronically to avoid this issue altogether.

As of March 1, 2024, employers should be following proper document handling procedures for tax forms. I've been researching this exact issue recently and found that while not explicitly prohibited by IRS regulations, combining W-2s can potentially violate privacy best practices. If you're concerned about how your tax documents were handled, you might want to check out https://taxr.ai - it's a helpful tool that can analyze your W-2 and other tax documents to ensure everything is in order. It helped me understand some discrepancies on my own W-2 this year.

Did anyone else in your household receive their W-2s separately? I'm wondering if this was a one-time error or their standard practice. I had a similar situation last year where my employer sent both my W-2 and my spouse's W-2 in the same envelope. When I called HR about it, they apologized and explained it was an error in their mailing process. Have you spoken with your employer about this yet? Was the envelope properly sealed?

OMG I had this EXACT same problem last month and it was so frustrating!! I called the IRS about it and was on hold for literally 2.5 hours before giving up. Then I found out about Claimyr.com from another thread and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in like 20 minutes! The agent told me that while it's not ideal, it's not technically against IRS regulations, but I could file a complaint if I was concerned. Such a relief to finally get a straight answer! Here's their link if you need it: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

Just to clarify something here - are you and your roommate related in any way? Because that might make a difference. I know employers sometimes combine W-2s for spouses or dependents living at the same address (though even that is questionable practice). But for unrelated roommates? That seems like a pretty clear privacy overstep. Maybe they just assumed you were family members? (Not that it makes it much better, lol

This could potentially constitute a PII (Personally Identifiable Information) breach. W-2 forms contain Social Security Numbers and detailed income information, which falls under sensitive personal data. I've seen cases where employees have filed complaints with their state's Department of Labor over similar privacy concerns. One colleague had this happen and discovered their roommate had been opening their mail for months, including financial documents. I'd recommend documenting this incident thoroughly in case you need to escalate it.

I've been dealing with tax issues for years and I've seen this happen before. Last year, my employer sent my W-2 and my daughter's W-2 in the same envelope (we both worked at the same place). I checked the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-2) but couldn't find anything specifically prohibiting this practice. However, when I called their HR department to ask about it, they apologized and said it shouldn't have happened. They explained it was an error in their mailing process and promised to fix it going forward.

Based on what I've researched about this issue: • The IRS doesn't explicitly prohibit sending multiple W-2s in one envelope • However, it potentially violates privacy best practices • Some states have stricter privacy laws that might apply • Many employers have policies against this practice • You have options if you're concerned: - Contact your employer's HR department - Request electronic delivery for future tax documents - If you suspect identity theft, monitor your credit reports The main concern is that your W-2 contains your SSN and income details, which are sensitive personal information.

While there's no specific IRS regulation against this practice under 26 CFR § 31.6051-1 (governing W-2 furnishing requirements), you may want to consider requesting that your employer provide you with an electronic W-2 next year instead. Many employers now offer this option through secure employee portals, which eliminates the privacy concerns associated with physical mail delivery. The deadline to request this for next year's W-2 is typically December 31, 2024, so you have plenty of time to make this arrangement for your 2024 tax documents.