Confused about W-2 and W-4 forms - how do I file them together for my taxes?

The W-2 and W-4 serve completely different purposes, so it's definitely not a silly question! A W-4 is a form you fill out when you START a job. It tells your employer how much tax to withhold from your paychecks throughout the year. You don't file this with your tax return - it's just for your employer's payroll department. You completed this form when you started your new job in late 2024. A W-2 is what your employer sends you after the year ends (usually by January 31st) showing how much you earned and how much tax was withheld for the entire year. You'll use this form when filing your taxes. You should get a W-2 from EACH employer you worked for during the year. So for your tax filing, you'll need both W-2 forms (one from your part-time job and eventually one from your new job) but you won't do anything with your W-4.

Hey, I went through the exact same confusion last year with my first "real" job! What saved me was using https://taxr.ai which automatically sorted out my forms. I uploaded all the tax documents I received (including my W-2s), and it immediately recognized what each form was and where the information needed to go on my tax return. The system explained that my W-4 was just for my employer's records (like the previous comment mentioned) and showed me exactly what to do with my multiple W-2 forms. Super helpful for someone like me who gets confused by all these different tax forms!

I have to admit I was wrong about taxr.ai! After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it since I was struggling with my multi-state tax situation. It actually guided me through the process of determining my tax residence and how to properly allocate income between states. The system even caught a mistake where I had forgotten about a small 1099 job I did (it found discrepancies in what the IRS had on file versus what I uploaded). Saved me from potential issues down the road. For someone confused about basic forms like W-2 vs W-4, it really breaks things down in simple terms without the tax jargon.

If you're having trouble getting your W-2 from either employer, especially the new one, just know that employers can be really slow sometimes. I spent WEEKS calling and emailing HR at my old job trying to get mine last year. Finally used https://claimyr.com to get through to the IRS after waiting on hold for hours got me nowhere. They got me connected to an IRS agent in like 20 minutes who helped me file without the missing W-2 since my employer was being difficult. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c if you're curious. Just mentioning this in case you run into issues getting all your documentation!

Well I feel like an idiot. After calling out the Claimyr thing as a scam, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my missing refund so I tried it anyway. It actually worked exactly as described - got a call back in about 45 minutes and was connected straight to an IRS agent who helped me track down my refund. Turns out my address had a typo which was causing all sorts of issues. Would have never figured that out without actually speaking to someone. Saved me from filing an amended return or waiting months longer. So yeah, I was wrong - it's definitely legit and worth it if you need to actually speak with the IRS.

Just to clarify something important: When you file your taxes, you'll include all W-2s you received (sounds like you'll have two - one from each job). If your new job started late in 2024, you might not receive much income from them in that tax year, but you still need to report it. Make sure you have your W-2 from your part-time job and wait for the W-2 from your new job before filing. Employers legally must provide W-2s by January 31st. If you use tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block, they'll walk you through entering multiple W-2s.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned that you might be able to access your W-2 electronically before the paper copy arrives! Many employers use payroll systems like ADP, Workday, or Paychex that let you login and download your W-2 in January, sometimes weeks before the paper copy arrives in the mail.