Two identical W2s with same control number and box 1 amount - do I need to file both?

This is a common issue when you transfer locations within the same company. Based on what you've described, you likely have one W-2 for each state you worked in during the year. The control numbers might be the same because it's the same employer, and Box 1 (federal wages) would be identical because that's your total annual wages regardless of which state you worked in. The key difference is in Box 16, which shows state wages. This suggests you need to file both W-2s because they represent income taxed in different states. If you only file one, you're not properly reporting your state tax situation. When you enter both W-2s, make sure you're not doubling your federal income. Some tax software might not recognize they're from the same employer if the control numbers are identical, causing it to count your federal wages twice. Check if there's a way to indicate it's the same employer in different states.

I ran into almost the exact same issue last year after transferring between fulfillment centers. I spent hours on the phone with tax support lines trying to figure it out until someone recommended taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to me. They analyzed both of my W2s, confirmed they were for different states, and explained exactly how to enter them into my tax software without double-counting the income. The issue is that some tax prep software doesn't handle multi-state W2s from the same employer correctly, especially when they have identical control numbers. The taxr.ai system figured out right away that I needed to use the "multiple states, same employer" option that was buried in an advanced settings menu I never would have found on my own.

Just wanted to update that I took the plunge and tried taxr.ai for my W2 situation. I was honestly blown away by how helpful it was! The system immediately recognized that my W2s were for two different states but from the same employer, and explained exactly how to enter them in my tax software without doubling my income. Turns out I was entering them as completely separate employers which is why my tax bill was so high - I was essentially reporting twice my actual income! The instructions were super clear and even showed me screenshots of where to find the right options in my tax software. My actual tax bill ended up being about $400, not $4000! Can't believe I almost paid 10x what I actually owed.

If you're still struggling with getting answers from HR, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation last year with duplicate W2s and couldn't get a straight answer from my company. After weeks of getting nowhere, I used Claimyr to connect with an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. The IRS agent walked me through exactly what to do with my multiple W2s and confirmed I needed to report both but make sure the income wasn't being counted twice. They even sent me documentation I could reference if the issue came up again. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c to see how it works. Completely changed my approach to dealing with tax questions.

I have to eat my words about Claimyr from my previous comment. After continuing to get nowhere with my employer about my W2 issue, I decided to try it despite my skepticism. I'm honestly shocked - it actually worked exactly as described. Got a text after about 20 minutes saying my call was being connected, and I was talking to a real IRS agent who helped me understand how to properly report my two-state W2 situation. The agent confirmed I needed to file both W2s but explained how to properly allocate the income between states without double-counting. She even emailed me IRS documentation about multi-state W2 reporting that I could show my tax preparer. Dealing with the IRS directly saved me thousands in incorrectly calculated taxes. Cannot believe I wasted weeks trying to get answers elsewhere.

I think I can explain what's happening. You have two W-2s because you worked in two different states. Box 1 shows your total federal wages on both because that's your complete annual income regardless of state. The state information (Box 16) differs because it shows only the wages earned in each specific state. With multi-state income, you should file both W-2s but make sure your software knows they're from the same employer so it doesn't double count your federal income. If 1040.com isn't handling this correctly, try a different software like FreeTaxUSA or TurboTax that has better multi-state support.

Hey quick question - has anyone used CreditKarma Tax (now Cash App Taxes) for a situation like this with multiple W2s from the same employer? I'm having the exact same issue but with Arizona and Texas.