Do I need separate W-2 forms for each job I worked in the same year?

Yes, you should receive a separate W-2 from each employer you worked for during the tax year. Each company is required to issue their own W-2 form showing the wages they paid you and the taxes they withheld. If you earned $3,800 at the cafe and they withheld taxes, they absolutely must provide you with a W-2 by January 31. The same applies to your retail job where you earned $8,600. When filing your taxes, you'll need to report information from both W-2 forms on your tax return. If you haven't received your W-2 from the cafe yet, I'd recommend contacting their HR or payroll department to ask about it. They might have sent it to an old address or maybe there's an electronic version available in their employee portal if they have one.

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If you're still waiting on W-2s, just know the IRS can be super helpful... if you can actually reach them! After waiting weeks for a missing W-2 and my employer being useless, I tried calling the IRS for help but kept getting busy signals or disconnected. Then I found https://claimyr.com which got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can watch how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent verified what the previous employer should've sent me and started the process of getting my missing W-2 information. They can actually contact your employer for you or provide the info you need to file without the W-2! Saved me from having to delay my filing or submit an incomplete return.

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Make sure you keep track of any tax documents that come in the mail! I learned this the hard way. For multiple W-2s, I like to use a dedicated folder or envelope as soon as January hits. Employers legally have to send them by Jan 31, but sometimes they cut it close. Also check if either employer offers electronic W-2s - might be faster and you won't have to worry about mail issues.

I made the mistake of throwing away a W-2 from a job where I only worked for like 3 weeks thinking it wasn't important since I barely made any money there. HUGE mistake!! The IRS sent me a letter about underreporting income and I had to pay additional taxes plus interest. Even if you only made a little money at one job, you need to include ALL W-2s when you file!!!!

Great question! Yes, you absolutely need separate W-2 forms from each employer. Since you worked at two different places during 2024, each employer is legally required to send you their own W-2 form by January 31st. So you should expect: - One W-2 from the cafe showing your $3,800 in wages - One W-2 from the retail store showing your $8,600 in wages When you file your taxes, you'll enter the information from both W-2s on your tax return. The IRS will see your total income of $12,400 ($3,800 + $8,600) but each employer reports their portion separately. If you haven't received the W-2 from the cafe yet, definitely reach out to them soon since the deadline is approaching. Sometimes smaller businesses are less organized with their payroll, so a friendly reminder call might be needed. Good luck with your first tax filing!