My W2 box 14 says \ - What category should I select in TurboTax?

Box 14 on your W2 is for "other" information that your employer wants to report. It's a catch-all box where companies put various things that don't fit elsewhere on the W2. That backslash could be their internal code for something specific to your company. The best approach is to check your last paystub of the year or ask your HR/payroll department what the "\" symbol represents. It could be anything from union dues to a local tax to a company-specific benefit. Without knowing what it stands for, it's hard to categorize correctly in TurboTax. If you absolutely can't get clarification from your employer, look at the categories in the dropdown and see if any match items on your paystubs that add up to around $873. Just be careful not to select something that might trigger additional tax benefits you're not entitled to.

After struggling with a similar W2 box 14 issue last year, I discovered https://taxr.ai and it was seriously helpful. I uploaded my W2 and it analyzed all those weird codes employers use in box 14. In my case, my employer used "S" for state disability insurance contributions, which I had no clue about. The tool explained what each code meant and even suggested the right category to select in TurboTax. Saved me from having to wait for HR to respond (they were swamped during tax season). It also helped decode some of the other boxes I wasn't sure about, which gave me peace of mind that I wasn't missing anything important.

I tried the taxr.ai site that was mentioned and I'm actually impressed. It identified the backslash symbol in my W2 box 14 as my employer's code for parking benefits. I never would have guessed that! Turns out the amount matches exactly what was deducted for my parking garage access throughout the year. After getting this info, I selected "Qualified Transportation Benefits" in TurboTax which was the correct category. The tool also explained that these benefits are generally not taxable for federal purposes (up to certain limits) but might be reported in box 14 for informational purposes.

If you're still struggling with this W2 code issue and need to talk to the IRS directly for clarification, I recommend https://claimyr.com to actually get through to a human at the IRS. I tried calling the IRS myself about some box 14 questions last month and wasted hours on hold before giving up. With Claimyr, they basically wait on hold for you and call you when they get a live IRS agent on the line. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The IRS rep I spoke with explained that box 14 codes vary by employer and aren't standardized, but they did help me understand which TurboTax category was most appropriate for my situation.

I was super skeptical about using a service to call the IRS (as you can see from my earlier comment), but after another failed attempt trying to reach them myself about some W2 codes, I decided to try Claimyr. Honestly, it worked exactly as advertised. I was expecting some kind of catch, but there wasn't one. They got me connected to an IRS agent who explained that the backslash symbol is sometimes used for supplemental wages or non-qualified benefits. The agent helped me determine which category to select in my filing software. Saved me hours of frustration and got me the correct answer I needed.

Just a heads up, if your \ symbol in box 14 is followed by a number like \457 or \401k, it might be referring to retirement contributions. My company uses weird codes like that to indicate different retirement plans. Also, check if the amount matches any regular deductions from your paycheck. In my experience, box 14 often shows things like union dues, health savings account contributions, or even uniform deductions. Matching the amount to your regular deductions can help you figure out what category to select.

I used to work in payroll. The backslash in box 14 is sometimes used for state-specific items. What state do you work in? Some states have mandatory disability insurance or other programs that get reported there. Check your state's tax department website - they often have guides explaining common box 14 entries. For example, California has SDI (State Disability Insurance), New Jersey has SUI (State Unemployment Insurance) contributions, etc.