Should I have received a W-2 C instead of just a replacement W-2 for errors?

When an employer needs to correct a W-2, they should indeed issue what's called a Form W-2c (Corrected Wage and Tax Statement). This form specifically shows both the incorrect information from the original W-2 and the corrected information side by side. It's unusual that your employer just issued new W-2s without indicating they're corrections. While you can still use the correct information for filing, this isn't the proper procedure on their part. Employers are required to file W-2c forms with the Social Security Administration when making corrections, and provide copies to employees. For amending your 2023 return, you'll need to file Form 1040-X and include an explanation that you received corrected wage information from your employer. For your 2024 return, if you haven't filed yet, you can just use the corrected information, but I'd recommend keeping documentation showing why you have multiple W-2s from the same employer.

Just went through something similar last month and found this awesome tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me sort through my W-2 confusion. I had a similar situation where my employer issued a regular W-2 as a "correction" instead of a W-2c form. I uploaded both W-2s to taxr.ai and it actually identified the discrepancies and explained what I needed to do. It showed me exactly what figures had changed and how to properly report this on my amended return. It even generated a letter explaining the situation that I could include with my 1040-X. The tool walks you through the exact steps for handling incorrectly issued correction forms. Honestly saved me hours of stress and potential problems with the IRS.

Just wanted to follow up on my skepticism about taxr.ai - I decided to try it after getting frustrated with my own W-2 situation. Honestly, it was way better than expected. The system actually highlighted exactly which boxes were different between my original and "corrected" W-2s (which weren't properly labeled as W-2c forms either). It even created a custom letter explaining the situation to include with my 1040-X for last year's amendment. What really impressed me was that it flagged that my employer probably hadn't properly filed the W-2c with the SSA, and suggested I follow up with HR about it. Turns out they hadn't, and getting that fixed potentially saved me from an IRS notice later. I'm normally super cautious about tax sites, but this one was actually legit helpful.

If you've been struggling to get proper W-2c forms from your employer and need help, I'd recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I used them to actually talk to a real IRS agent about a similar W-2 issue when my employer kept giving me the runaround. Getting through to the IRS directly was impossible - I kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Claimyr got me connected with an actual IRS representative in about 20 minutes. They have this system where they wait on hold for you and call when an agent is ready. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent explained exactly what my employer needed to do and even sent me official documentation about W-2c requirements that I could show my employer. Saved me days of stress and confusion.

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to the IRS about my amended return with incorrect W-2 forms, so I tried it anyway. It actually works exactly as advertised. They connected me to a legitimate IRS representative who verified my identity through the normal IRS verification process. The agent helped me understand exactly how to handle the situation with my employer's improper W-2 corrections and what documentation I needed for my amended return. The agent confirmed that employers must issue W-2c forms, not just new W-2s, and explained how to file Form 1040-X with an explanation letter. She even gave me information about what my employer needs to do with the Social Security Administration to make sure my wage records are correct. Sometimes being wrong feels pretty good - this service saved me days of frustration.

What you're describing is actually a common payroll mistake. I worked in HR for years, and we were supposed to issue W-2c forms for corrections, not just new W-2s. Your employer's payroll department probably doesn't know the proper procedure. For your protection, I suggest: 1) Contact your employer's payroll department and ask them to issue proper W-2c forms 2) Keep copies of BOTH the original incorrect W-2s and the new ones 3) If filing an amended return, include a brief explanation letter 4) If using tax software, there should be an option to indicate you're using a corrected W-2 The biggest risk is that the IRS computers may flag a discrepancy if your employer reported different numbers to the SSA than what's on your return.

Anyone know if the tax prep software like TurboTax or H&R Block can handle this situation properly? I have a similar issue but already started my return in TurboTax.