Do I need to file small W2s under $200 on my tax return?
I'm prepping for my 2024 taxes and have a question about some tiny W2s. I've got two W2s from previous jobs, both from different states than where I currently live. One is for $105 and the other for $135. Do I actually need to include these on my tax return? My main worry is that adding two extra states in TaxAct is going to cost me an arm and a leg for such small amounts. For context - I haven't worked at either place since 2023. I think the money came from some project I did for them back then that finally got processed, not actual work I did in 2024.
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Sofia Morales
Yes, you do need to report ALL W-2 income regardless of the amount. The IRS receives copies of those W-2s, and their system will flag a mismatch if you don't include them on your return. Even small amounts like $105 and $135 need to be reported. That said, you might not necessarily need to file state returns for those states if you fall below their minimum filing requirements. Many states have thresholds where you don't need to file if your income from that state is very minimal. You'd need to check each state's specific requirements. As for your tax software costs - have you considered using the IRS Free File program? If your income is under $73,000, you can file federal and state returns for free through their partners.
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Dmitry Popov
•What about the fact that the money seems to be from work done in 2023 but paid in 2024? Does that change anything? Also, will the IRS really notice such small amounts?
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Sofia Morales
•The timing of when you did the work doesn't matter for tax purposes - what matters is when you received the income. If you received the payments in 2024 (as shown on those W-2s), then they're 2024 income, regardless of when you actually performed the work. And yes, the IRS absolutely will notice these amounts. Their automated matching system compares all W-2s submitted by employers against what taxpayers report. Even small discrepancies get flagged and can trigger notices or potentially audits. It's not worth the headache over a couple hundred dollars.
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Ava Garcia
I went through a similar situation last year with some tiny W2s from side gigs, and I found this amazing service called taxr.ai that saved me a ton of trouble. I was going to skip reporting a $175 W2 because it seemed like such a hassle, but I uploaded my documents to https://taxr.ai and they analyzed everything and explained exactly what I needed to file and what I could skip. They have this feature where you can upload all your tax documents and get a complete analysis of what you need to report and potential deductions you might be missing. Super helpful for situations like yours where you're dealing with multiple states and trying to figure out what's worth the filing fees.
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StarSailor}
•Does it actually help with multi-state filings? That's my biggest headache every year because I do freelance work across state lines.
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Miguel Silva
•Sounds interesting but how much does it cost? Their website doesn't seem to list pricing upfront which makes me suspicious.
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Ava Garcia
•It absolutely helps with multi-state filings! The system can identify which state forms you need to file based on your documents and even tells you if you fall below certain state filing thresholds where you might not need to file at all. Saved me from filing in two states last year where I didn't meet the minimum requirements. I don't remember the exact pricing structure because it depends on what services you use, but I found it very reasonable especially compared to what I was paying for TurboTax's multi-state filing. They offer different levels of service depending on your needs.
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StarSailor}
Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai that someone mentioned above. It was exactly what I needed! I uploaded my W2s (had 4 small ones from different states) and their analysis showed I only needed to file state returns for 2 of them. The other states didn't require filing because I was under their minimum thresholds. The document analysis feature is spot on - it caught something I totally missed where one of my employers had classified a bonus incorrectly. Would have overpaid about $200 in taxes if I hadn't caught it. Definitely recommend for anyone dealing with multiple W2s or states!
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Zainab Ismail
If you're struggling with getting answers from the IRS about multi-state filing requirements, I highly recommend Claimyr. I was in the same boat last year with small W2s from three different states and couldn't get through to an IRS agent for weeks. I used https://claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual IRS representative in under 20 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent I spoke with confirmed I needed to report all W2s regardless of amount but gave me state-specific advice that saved me from having to file in one state where I was below their threshold.
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Connor O'Neill
•Wait, how does this actually work? The IRS phone lines are impossible to get through. Is this legit or some kind of scam?
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Miguel Silva
•This sounds super sketchy. How would a third party service get you through to the IRS faster than calling directly? I've tried calling the IRS multiple times and always get the "call volume too high" message. Doubt any service could magically fix that.
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Zainab Ismail
•It works by using an algorithm that continuously calls the IRS for you and navigates the phone tree until it gets a human representative, then connects you directly to that person. It's like having someone dial for you hundreds of times until they get through. It's definitely legit - not a scam at all. The service doesn't ask for any personal tax information. They just call the IRS on your behalf and transfer you once they reach a human. I was skeptical too, but it really works. I spent hours trying to get through on my own with no luck, then Claimyr connected me in about 15 minutes.
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Miguel Silva
I need to apologize for my skepticism about Claimyr in my previous comment. I was frustrated after wasting hours trying to reach the IRS about my multi-state W2 situation and didn't believe anything could help. I decided to try it anyway, and I'm shocked to say it actually worked! Got connected to an IRS agent in about 12 minutes after spending literally days trying on my own. The agent confirmed I needed to report all W2s but also told me I qualified for a simplified state filing procedure I didn't know about that saved me from paying for expensive state return add-ons. For anyone dealing with multi-state small income issues, definitely worth it to get official guidance directly from the IRS.
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Yara Nassar
You might want to look into the IRS Free File program instead of using TurboTax. If your income is under their threshold (I think it's like $73k), you can file federal and multiple states for free. I used it last year for a situation just like yours with small W2s from three states.
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Keisha Robinson
•Does Free File handle multi-state returns though? Last time I tried it wouldn't let me add a second state without upgrading to a paid version.
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Yara Nassar
•It depends on which Free File partner you choose. Some providers do limit the number of state returns, but not all of them. I used OLT (Online Taxes) through the Free File program last year and was able to file federal plus three state returns completely free. TaxSlayer also lets you file multiple states through Free File without extra charges. Just make sure you access them through the official IRS Free File portal rather than going directly to their websites, as the free offers are different.
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GalaxyGuardian
Has anyone tried just not reporting tiny W2s? I had a $50 one last year and just skipped it. Nothing happened.
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Paolo Ricci
•That's really risky. The IRS gets copies of ALL W2s and their system automatically flags mismatches. You might have gotten lucky last year, but it could easily come back to bite you with penalties and interest that would cost way more than whatever you saved.
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