My W2 shows empty fields for State and Federal Tax withheld - what do I do?

How long does it usually take to get a corrected W-2? I'm dealing with something similar and worried about missing the filing deadline.

Employers are supposed to issue corrected W-2s within 30 days of being notified of an error. However, in practice, many payroll departments can generate them much faster - sometimes within a few days. If you're concerned about the filing deadline, remember you can always file for an extension using Form 4868. This gives you until October to file your actual return, though you still need to pay any estimated taxes owed by the regular deadline.

Does it work for other tax documents too? I've got some 1099s that seem off compared to what I was actually paid.

Seems useful but can it actually help if your employer is dragging their feet? Mine took forever last time I needed a correction.

It absolutely works for 1099s as well as W-2s. You can upload any financial documents and the system will analyze them for discrepancies against your records or bank statements. It creates a really detailed report showing exactly where the numbers don't match up. As for unresponsive employers, the documentation it provides is detailed enough to use for filing Form 4852 (Substitute for W-2) if needed. It basically gives you professional-level backup for your case so that when you do get in touch with your employer, you have everything organized to make the correction process as smooth as possible.

How does this actually work? I thought it was impossible to get through to the IRS without waiting forever.

Yeah right. Nothing gets through the IRS phone system. Sounds like a scam to me.

It works by using an algorithm that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When an agent finally picks up, you get a call connecting you directly to them. It basically does the waiting part so you don't have to sit there listening to that awful hold music for hours. It's definitely not a scam. It's just a service that handles the frustrating hold process. The IRS is actually trying to improve their phone system, but until they do, this is a huge time-saver. The agents I've spoken to have been super helpful once I actually got through to them - the problem has always been just getting someone on the line in the first place.

Thanks for the advice! I do have my last paystub from December that shows all the YTD withholding amounts. It's very clear taxes were taken out. I'm going to try reaching the payroll department directly tomorrow morning. Do I need to wait for the corrected W-2 before filing, or is there some way to file with my paystub information?

Definitely wait for the corrected W-2 if possible. Your employer should be able to generate a corrected form fairly quickly once you point out the error. If they're really dragging their feet and the tax deadline is approaching, you can file using Form 4852 (Substitute for W-2) using the information from your paystubs. But this should be a last resort since it can delay processing of your return and might trigger extra verification from the IRS.

That's a good point about checking employment status, but the OP mentioned they saw tax withholding on their paystubs throughout the year, which wouldn't happen for a 1099 contractor. Sounds like a W-2 error rather than a misclassification issue.

I'm definitely an employee with a W-2, not a contractor. I've been getting regular paychecks with taxes taken out all year. The W-2 form itself looks correct except for the withholding boxes being empty. I checked with a coworker and their W-2 shows the withholding amounts correctly, so I think it's just an error with mine specifically.