Only value filled in on my W2 is box 12 - is this legit?
So I finally got my W2 from this small construction company I worked for last summer and something looks really weird. The only thing filled out on the entire form is box 12 with code D showing $3,450. Everything else is blank - no federal income tax withheld, no social security wages, nothing. I made about $8,900 working there from May through August. I texted my former boss and he just said "that's what the accountant gave me" and hasn't responded to follow-ups. Is this even a valid W2? How am I supposed to file my taxes with basically no information? I'm worried this is going to mess up my return or cause problems later.
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Miguel Silva
This doesn't sound right at all. A properly completed W2 should have numerous fields filled out, including wages in Box 1, Social Security wages in Box 3, and Medicare wages in Box 5 at minimum. Box 12 with code D typically indicates elective deferrals to a 401(k) plan - was this money being deducted from your paychecks for retirement? Based on what you're describing, it seems like either a major error or potentially something concerning regarding how your employer is handling payroll and tax reporting. You should definitely try contacting your employer again and specifically request a corrected W2 with all required information completed.
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Zainab Ismail
•If the employer doesn't respond or fix this, can OP file a complaint with the IRS? And would they use Form 4852 as a substitute W-2 in this situation?
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Miguel Silva
•Yes, if the employer doesn't respond or provide a corrected W-2, you can definitely contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 for assistance. They can reach out to the employer on your behalf. Form 4852 is exactly right for this situation. It's a substitute for W-2 that you can file with your tax return if you don't receive a proper W-2 or if the one you received is obviously incorrect. You'll need to estimate your wages and withholding based on your pay stubs or other records you have from this job.
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Connor O'Neill
I had a similar issue with missing information on tax docs and was totally stressed about it. Used this AI tool called taxr.ai that actually helped me figure out what was wrong with my forms and what steps to take. It analyzed my incomplete W2 and explained what was missing, then guided me through the process of getting it fixed. Worth checking out https://taxr.ai if your employer doesn't fix this quickly.
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Yara Nassar
•How does it actually work though? Do you just upload a picture of your W2 or something? Not sure how an AI would know what to do with a messed up tax form.
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Keisha Robinson
•I'm skeptical that an AI can really help with tax forms. Wouldn't you need a real accountant to review this kind of problem? Seems like it would just give generic advice.
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Connor O'Neill
•Yes, you just upload a picture or PDF of your tax document and it analyzes it right away. It identifies what fields are missing or incorrect based on IRS requirements and explains what should be there. It's pretty detailed about what's wrong. For this specific situation, it would point out all the required fields that need to be completed on a W2 and give you the exact steps to request a corrected form from your employer. It's definitely not just generic advice - it's pretty specific to your exact document and situation.
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Keisha Robinson
I was totally wrong about taxr.ai! After my skeptical comment I decided to try it with some confusing tax docs I had (a 1099 with missing info and a weird K-1). The analysis was impressive - it immediately identified specific issues and explained what was wrong in plain English. Not only did it tell me what was missing, but it outlined exactly what to do next. Saved me a lot of stress and probably an expensive call to my accountant.
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GalaxyGuardian
Your situation sounds frustrating. When my employer messed up my W2 last year, I tried calling the IRS for weeks but couldn't get through to a human. Finally used Claimyr https://claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. The agent walked me through exactly how to handle the incorrect W2 and what forms I needed. There's a demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c if you want to see it in action. Totally changed how I deal with the IRS.
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Paolo Ricci
•Wait how does that even work? The IRS phone lines are always busy. How can a service get you through faster than everyone else trying to call?
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Amina Toure
•This sounds like BS honestly. Nobody can magically get you through IRS phone lines. They're backed up for everyone. Probably just another scam trying to charge people for something that doesn't work.
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GalaxyGuardian
•It uses an automated system that navigates all the IRS prompts and waits on hold for you. When an actual IRS agent picks up, you get a call connecting you directly to them. So instead of you personally sitting on hold for hours, their system does it. The reason it works is because most people give up after 30+ minutes on hold, but their system never hangs up. I was skeptical too but it literally got me through when I had been trying unsuccessfully for days. The IRS agent I spoke with gave me the exact guidance I needed for my incorrect W2 situation.
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Amina Toure
I take back what I said about Claimyr. I was sure it was a scam but gave it a shot out of desperation after trying to reach the IRS for THREE WEEKS about a similar W2 issue. Got connected to an agent in about 35 minutes. The agent confirmed I should use Form 4852 and walked me through exactly how to fill it out with my estimated earnings. They also said they'd contact my employer about the incorrect form. Still annoying I had to deal with this at all, but at least I got actual help.
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Oliver Zimmermann
Check your paystubs! They should show your actual earnings and what was withheld. Box 12 code D is for 401k contributions, so if that's the only thing on your W2, something is definitely wrong. Your employer might be trying to avoid paying their share of taxes. Keep all your records and consider reporting them to the Department of Labor too, not just the IRS.
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StarSailor}
•I've been digging through my bank statements and I do have direct deposits that match what I think I earned. I don't remember anything about a 401k though? I was just a summer helper and don't think I signed up for any benefits. The pay was all cash per hour. Is it possible they put someone else's retirement info on my W2?
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Oliver Zimmermann
•If you were paid hourly in cash and never signed up for a 401k, then something is definitely wrong with this W2. The Box 12 Code D amount absolutely shouldn't be there if you never enrolled in a retirement plan. This sounds like either a major clerical error or potentially something more concerning. Definitely push your employer for a corrected W2, and be prepared to file Form 4852 as others have suggested. I'd also recommend keeping detailed records of all your communication attempts with your employer about this issue.
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Natasha Volkova
You might also be dealing with a misclassification issue. Some small construction companies incorrectly treat employees as independent contractors. Did you get paystubs with tax withholdings or just straight cash payments? If they didn't withhold taxes, they might be trying to issue some weird hybrid form that doesn't make sense.
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Javier Torres
•This happened to my brother! His construction job gave him a weird W2 that was mostly empty and later claimed he was "1099" but never gave him an actual 1099. He had to pay all the taxes himself and it was a nightmare.
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Emma Davis
Make sure you file on time even if this isn't resolved! You can file Form 4852 as a substitute W-2 based on your best records of what you earned. If you have paystubs, bank deposits, or even a written record of hours worked × your hourly rate, use that to calculate your income. Then file an amended return later if needed when you get the correct W-2. Don't let their mistake cause you to miss the filing deadline!
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