Employer Issued Two Different W-2s with Different Amounts - IRS Thinks I Made More Than Reported

Oh my goodness, YES! This happened to me last year and I nearly had a heart attack! 😱 The IRS sent me a CP2000 notice saying I underreported by $14,500! There are a few things that might be happening here: 1. Your employer issued a CORRECTED W-2 (should say "CORRECTED" on it) but the IRS is counting both 2. You worked in multiple departments/divisions that issue separate W-2s 3. Your employer made a legitimate error and duplicated your W-2 Don't panic! This is fixable! You need to contact your employer's payroll department ASAP and ask them to explain the two W-2s. If they issued a corrected one, only the corrected one should count.

This happens more than you'd think! Have you tried calling the IRS yet? You'll need to explain the situation to them directly, but... have you tried calling the IRS lately? It's practically impossible to get through, right? You could waste HOURS on hold only to be disconnected. Hours you probably don't have if you're working multiple jobs? I was in a similar situation last year and used Claimyr to connect with an actual IRS agent without the ridiculous wait. It's a service that navigates the phone tree for you and calls you back when an agent is on the line. Saved me from wasting an entire day on hold! Here's their link: https://www.claimyr.com Time is of the essence here - don't you want to get this resolved before they start charging penalties and interest?

This is a common issue. Happens all the time. Especially with corporate restructuring. Or payroll system changes. Or fiscal year adjustments. The IRS computers just add everything. They don't check for duplicates. Your employer should help fix this. Call their payroll department immediately. Ask for written documentation.

I resolved this exact issue last year. It's like having two keys to the same lock - they both work, but you only need one to open the door. My strategy was methodical: 1. Got copies of both W-2s from my employer 2. Had payroll write a formal letter explaining the duplicate/correction 3. Prepared a detailed response to the IRS with all documentation 4. Included my own spreadsheet showing how the numbers should be calculated 5. Sent everything certified mail with return receipt The IRS actually fixed it within 6 weeks - much faster than I expected. The frustrating part was that I couldn't get anyone on the phone to confirm they received my documentation, but it all worked out in the end.

I feel your pain! Nothing worse than getting that heart-stopping letter from the IRS saying you owe thousands more than you expected. 😱 While you're gathering documentation from your employer, you might want to check out taxr.ai to help understand exactly what's happening with your tax situation. I was completely lost when I got a similar notice, but their tool helped me understand exactly what the IRS was claiming versus what I had reported. It analyzes your tax documents and explains everything in plain English - saved me from having a complete meltdown! Here's their link: https://www.taxr.ai And don't worry - this is a fixable problem. The IRS makes mistakes too (or rather, their automated systems do). They're actually pretty reasonable once you provide the right documentation.

Def been there. Happened to me when my company got acquired mid-yr. HR issued W2s from both old and new entities but w/ overlapping pay periods. Total nightmare. IRS comp system just adds everything up and boom - suddenly u owe $$$ you don't actually owe. Took like 3 months to fix but eventually got resolved w/o penalties. Just keep good records and stay on top of it!

I successfully resolved this issue last year by following these steps: 1. First, I contacted my employer's payroll department. I requested a detailed explanation of both W-2s. 2. They confirmed one was a corrected W-2 that should replace the original. 3. Next, I made copies of both W-2s and highlighted the overlapping information. 4. Then I drafted a clear letter explaining the situation to the IRS. 5. I included the letter from my employer confirming the duplicate. 6. Finally, I sent everything via certified mail with return receipt. The IRS resolved my case within 45 days. They sent a revised notice showing I didn't owe additional taxes. The key was having clear documentation from my employer explaining the situation.

This is actually more common than people realize. The IRS matching system isn't smart enough to detect duplicates or corrections. It just sees two W-2s and adds them together. Unlike credit reporting where they try to eliminate duplicates, the IRS system assumes all reported income is valid until proven otherwise.

According to Internal Revenue Manual section 4.19.3, the IRS Automated Underreporter (AUR) program automatically matches information returns (like W-2s) against filed tax returns. When discrepancies are found, a CP2000 notice is generated. Per IRM 4.19.3.20.1.4, taxpayers have the right to dispute proposed adjustments by providing documentation showing why the proposed assessment is incorrect. In cases of duplicate reporting, the employer should be able to provide a letter confirming which W-2 is valid, and the IRS is required to consider this evidence during their review.

I've seen this exact scenario with multiple clients. One client worked for a large retail chain that changed ownership mid-year. Both the old and new companies issued W-2s, but they covered overlapping periods. The IRS computer just added them together and sent a notice saying she underreported by $22,000. We had to get statements from both companies showing the actual dates worked and earnings for each. Did your employer undergo any ownership changes or major restructuring last year?