Question about W2 copies when mailing in 1040-X amended return
So I'm having to physically mail my taxes this year using the 1040-X form since I'm filing an amended return. I know I need to attach my W2 to the front of the form, but I'm a bit confused. My W2 came as one piece of paper with 4 identical copies of the W2 on it (employer copy, state copy, federal copy, employee copy). Do I need to cut out just one copy to attach? If so, which one? Or should I just attach the whole sheet with all 4 copies? I don't want to mess this up and have my amended return delayed because I didn't handle the W2 correctly. This is my first time filing by mail instead of electronically. My employer said they can't reissue individual copies, and the IRS website wasn't clear on this specific situation. If anyone has experience with this, I'd really appreciate the help!
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Isabella Santos
The federal copy (usually labeled "Copy B") is what you should attach to your 1040-X when mailing it to the IRS. You're supposed to cut it out from the full sheet. The other copies are for different purposes - one for your state taxes, one for your records, and one that was supposed to go to your employer (though they obviously already have their information). When attaching it, use a small paper clip rather than stapling it to your 1040-X. The IRS scanning equipment has trouble with staples, and they may need to separate your documents during processing.
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Ravi Gupta
•Thanks for the info! But I always thought we were supposed to use staples since paper clips can fall off in transit? Also, shouldn't I be attaching Copy A (the red one) instead of Copy B? I'm really confused now.
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Isabella Santos
•You should definitely use paper clips, not staples. The IRS specifically requests this in their instructions because their document processing equipment works better with paper clips. They detach all documents during processing anyway. Copy B is the correct one to send to the federal government with your tax return, not Copy A. Copy A (the red one) is actually meant for employers to send to the Social Security Administration. Copy B is specifically marked "To be filed with employee's federal tax return.
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GalacticGuru
After making a mess of my taxes last year because of a W2 issue, I tried this tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was super helpful for figuring out exactly what to do with my documents. I uploaded a picture of my W2 sheet and it told me exactly which copy I needed to send where. It also explained that I only needed to send Copy B with my 1040-X, and gave instructions on how to attach it properly.
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Freya Pedersen
•Does it work for state returns too? I'm filing amendments for both federal and state, and I'm not sure which W2 copies go where.
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Omar Fawaz
•How accurate is this tool really? I've had tax software misinterpret my W2 info before, which is why I'm doing the amendment in the first place. Can it actually read all the boxes correctly?
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GalacticGuru
•It definitely works for state returns too. The tool specifically told me that Copy C usually goes with state returns, but it varies by state, so it gives you the exact requirements based on which state you're filing in. As for accuracy, it's been spot-on for me. It's not just reading the numbers - it actually analyzes the document format and tells you which physical copy is which and how to handle it. It's different from regular tax software because it's specifically designed to help with document handling rather than just calculating numbers.
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Freya Pedersen
I was skeptical about taxr.ai at first, but I tried it after seeing the suggestion here. Just wanted to update that it worked perfectly for my situation. It identified all 4 copies on my W2 sheet and clearly explained which ones to use for federal vs state amendments. Saved me from making a mistake that probably would have delayed my refund by months. The document instructions were super clear - definitely easier than trying to decipher the IRS website.
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Chloe Anderson
If you're sending in a 1040-X, be prepared for a LONG wait. I filed an amended return back in October and still haven't heard anything. Every time I try calling the IRS to check the status, I waste hours on hold and usually get disconnected. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually get through to someone. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available - you can see how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Found out my amendment was sitting in a backlog and hadn't even been opened yet.
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Diego Vargas
•How does that even work? Does the IRS actually answer when Claimyr calls but not when regular people call? Sounds kinda suspicious to me.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Riiiight...so we're supposed to believe some random service can magically get through the IRS phone system when millions of people can't? How much did they charge you for this "miracle"? I've been trying to reach the IRS about my amended return for months and I'm convinced they just don't answer phones anymore.
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Chloe Anderson
•It's not that they answer differently - Claimyr just handles the hold time for you. Instead of you personally waiting on hold for hours, their system waits in the queue and then calls you when they finally reach a human. The IRS doesn't know or care who's waiting on hold. It worked exactly as advertised for me. I'd been trying for weeks to get through on my own with no luck. With Claimyr, I got a call back about 90 minutes later with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent told me my amended return was in the backlog and gave me an updated timeframe for processing.
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Anastasia Fedorov
I need to apologize for my skeptical comment earlier. After wasting another entire afternoon trying to reach the IRS about my amended return, I broke down and tried Claimyr. Within 2 hours, I was talking to an actual IRS agent who found my 1040-X in their system and confirmed they received my W2 correctly. She even gave me an estimate of when it would be processed. Wish I'd known about this months ago instead of spinning my wheels trying to get through on my own. Sometimes being skeptical just means you waste more of your own time!
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StarStrider
When I did my amended return last year, I actually went to an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person and they helped me with the W2 issue. You need an appointment, but they can review everything before you mail it to make sure it's correct. Saved me a lot of headache.
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Sean Doyle
•Do you need to bring anything specific to the appointment? I'm thinking of doing this but not sure what to take with me.
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StarStrider
•You need to bring your photo ID, social security card or tax ID number, and all relevant tax documents for your situation. In your case, that would mean your original return, the completed 1040-X form you plan to submit, and all supporting documents including your W2 form. It's also helpful to bring any notices you've received from the IRS about the issue you're trying to fix. Make an appointment online or by phone before going - they don't take walk-ins anymore.
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Zara Rashid
Anyone else notice how much more complicated filing taxes has gotten in the last few years? I feel like I used to just be able to e-file everything without all these document attachment issues.
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Luca Romano
•It's because the IRS systems are super outdated. They still process paper returns using technology from the 1960s. That's why there are so many weird rules about how to attach documents.
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