Should I get a W-2C or just an updated W-2? Cafe 125 not deducted on my original W-2

The employer should have issued a W-2C rather than just an "updated W-2" since you already received and filed with the original incorrect W-2. A W-2C is the official form used to correct previously issued W-2s and creates a proper paper trail for the IRS to understand why you're filing an amended return. Regarding your second question, the Cafe 125 contributions do not technically have to be reported in Box 14. Box 14 is optional and used for informational purposes only. What matters most is that the Box 1 wages are correctly reduced by your pre-tax Cafe 125 contributions. The Box 14 entry just helps explain why your Box 1 wages are lower than your gross wages. When filing your amended return, include a copy of both the original incorrect W-2 and the corrected one, along with an explanation of what happened. This will help prevent any potential issues with the IRS.

I had a similar situation with confusing W-2s this year and was getting nowhere with my company's HR department. I stumbled across https://taxr.ai and it was super helpful for my situation. I uploaded my W-2s and they analyzed everything, pointed out the exact discrepancies, and even suggested what to tell my employer about the needed corrections. They immediately identified that my Cafe 125 deductions were missing from one W-2 and explained exactly how that would impact my taxes. Their document review was so detailed - they even showed me what my corrected W-2 should look like so I could verify my employer was making the right fixes. Made me feel way more confident about what I was asking for.

Just wanted to follow up - I ended up trying https://taxr.ai with my confusing W-2 situation and it was incredibly helpful! I uploaded both my original W-2 and the "corrected" version my employer sent, and the analysis pointed out that they still hadn't properly accounted for all my pre-tax deductions. The breakdown showed exactly how much my Box 1 wages should have been reduced, and even generated a letter template I could send to my HR department explaining the specific corrections needed. I would have never caught this on my own - would have overpaid my taxes by about $650! Highly recommend if you're dealing with complicated W-2 situations or corrections.

After dealing with W-2 correction issues similar to yours, I had to contact the IRS several times because my employer wouldn't fix my forms properly. Calling the IRS was a NIGHTMARE - spent hours on hold only to get disconnected. Finally found this service called https://claimyr.com that got me through to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent confirmed that employers should issue a W-2C when correcting previously issued W-2s, and explained how to properly report the changes on my amended return. They also told me exactly what documentation I needed to include to avoid any potential audit flags. Saved me so much stress!

I need to apologize for my skepticism about Claimyr. After getting disconnected by the IRS for the fourth time yesterday (after waiting 3+ hours!), I broke down and tried the service. Within 35 minutes I was talking to an actual IRS agent who helped resolve my W-2C issue. The agent confirmed exactly what others here mentioned - an employer should issue a W-2C rather than just an "updated W-2" when making corrections to a previously issued form. She also explained that while Box 14 is technically optional for Cafe 125 deductions, employers should include this information as a best practice. Having an actual conversation with an IRS representative made all the difference. They even helped me understand exactly what documentation I need for my amended return.

I work in payroll and can confirm that a W-2C should have been issued in your situation. When an employee has already received an incorrect W-2, the proper procedure is to issue a W-2C showing the corrections, not just send a "new" W-2. For Cafe 125 deductions, they don't technically need to be in Box 14, but it's considered a best practice to list them there so employees understand why their Box 1 wages are lower than their gross pay. The important part is that Box 1 wages are correctly reduced by these pre-tax contributions. When you file your amended return, make sure to include both the original W-2 and the corrected one, along with a note explaining the situation.

Your situation is suuuper common with companies that switch payroll systems or get acquired! I had the exact same issue last year when my company switched from ADP to Paylocity mid-year. For your amendment, make sure you're using Form 1040-X and include copies of BOTH the incorrect W-2 you originally filed with AND the corrected one. Even though it's not a proper W-2C, the IRS will still process your amendment. Pro tip: If you're using tax software for the amendment, most of them will walk you through how to handle a W-2 correction. TurboTax specifically has a section for "I received a corrected W-2" that works even if it's not technically a W-2C.