How can I verify what my employer is reporting as wages/income before receiving my W-2?

You can actually request a wage and income transcript directly from the IRS that shows what your employer has reported for you. However, there's a catch - these records typically aren't updated in real-time. The IRS usually processes this information after the end of the quarter, so there might be a lag between what's happening now and what's showing up in their system. A more practical approach would be to request a payroll report from your employer. You have a legal right to see your own payroll records. Ask to speak with whoever handles payroll (not just your manager) and request a year-to-date earnings report. This should show what they're calculating for your wages, including reported tips. Also, start keeping your own detailed records immediately. Document all your tips daily - both cash and credit card - in a notebook or app. This will be invaluable if you need to dispute anything on your W-2 later.

I had a similar issue with my restaurant job and found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) super helpful for figuring out what was actually being reported. I was getting frustrated trying to match my tip records with what was showing up on my pay stubs, and my manager kept giving me the runaround when I asked questions. The tool basically analyzed my pay stubs and helped me identify exactly where the discrepancies were happening (turns out they were calculating my "declared" tips wrong). It also helped me understand what would likely show up on my W-2 based on current reporting patterns. The nice thing was that I could get clear answers without having to keep asking my already unhelpful management.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai like @7 suggested. It was actually super helpful! I uploaded my last three pay stubs and it showed me that my employer wasn't correctly separating credit card tips from cash tips on their reporting. According to the analysis, they were over-reporting my cash tips by about $200 per month so far! I took the report to my manager yesterday and he was surprised - turns out there was a glitch in their POS system that was double-counting some transactions. They're fixing it now, and they're going to correct the previous reports. So glad I caught this before tax season! The service was definitely worth it just for the peace of mind.

If you want to talk directly to the IRS about what's being reported, I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in the same situation last year and spent DAYS trying to get through to the IRS on my own. After getting nothing but busy signals and disconnects, I tried Claimyr and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in less than 20 minutes. The IRS agent was able to tell me exactly what my employer had reported for the previous quarters and confirmed that there were inconsistencies with what I had in my records. They also explained exactly what documentation I needed to gather to dispute anything incorrect on my future W-2. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - it seriously changed how I deal with tax issues now.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I just tried Claimyr after posting my skeptical comment. Holy crap, it actually worked! After trying to get through to the IRS on my own for literally weeks (calling during my lunch breaks and getting nowhere), I got connected in about 15 minutes using their service. The IRS agent confirmed that my employer had only filed quarterly reports through Q2, and there were some issues with how they were classifying my income. She actually gave me specific advice on what to do if my W-2 doesn't match my records next year. Worth every penny just to save my sanity from those endless holds and disconnects!

Another thing you can try is looking at your pay stubs more carefully. By law, they should be showing your YTD (year-to-date) earnings, tax withholdings, and reported tips. Compare these numbers to your own records. If there's a big discrepancy, that's a warning sign that your W-2 might have issues later. Also, check your Social Security earnings record online at ssa.gov. It won't be super current (usually a few months behind), but it will show what's been reported by your employer for Social Security tax purposes. This is another way to catch potential problems before tax season.

Has anyone tried just asking for a copy of their quarterly 941 form? That's what employers use to report wages and taxes to the IRS each quarter. My previous restaurant manager showed me mine when I had a similar issue. Might be worth asking for that specifically.

One thing that's helped me is creating a simple daily tip log using a notes app on my phone. I record cash tips, credit card tips, and any tip-outs to other staff every single shift. Takes maybe 30 seconds but gives you solid documentation. Also, if your restaurant uses a POS system like Square or Toast, sometimes you can ask to see your individual sales reports that show the credit card tips tied to your transactions. This can help you verify if they're calculating your reported income correctly. Some managers are more willing to show you this data than full payroll reports since it's less sensitive information. The key is catching discrepancies NOW rather than waiting until January when your W-2 arrives. Fixing errors after the fact is a nightmare that can drag on for months.