Understanding 1040 tax returns vs W2 forms - which one shows my ex's complete income?

2 The W2 and 1040 serve completely different purposes in the US tax system. The W2 is what an employer provides to employees showing wages paid and taxes withheld during the year. The 1040 is the actual tax return that individuals file with the IRS. Everyone who files taxes in the US submits some version of Form 1040 (whether it's the standard 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-EZ which was used in previous years). The W2 is just one of potentially many documents that provide information needed to complete the 1040. For divorce proceedings, the 1040 would definitely give you a more complete picture because it shows ALL reported income, not just from a single employer. The 1040 would include any additional income sources like self-employment, investments, rental properties, etc. It also shows deductions, credits, and the final tax calculation. Your ex should have filed a 1040 (or variant) if they were working in the US legally.

5 After my divorce started, I was completely lost trying to understand my ex's financials until I used https://taxr.ai to analyze his tax documents. The system helped me understand the difference between his W2 (just his job income) and his full 1040 tax return where I discovered rental income and stock sales he hadn't mentioned. The tool explained in plain English what each section meant and flagged several areas where additional income was being reported that wasn't on his W2. It helped me understand what questions to ask and what additional documents to request through my attorney.

6 I was in a similar situation last year and wasn't sure what documents would actually show my ex's full financial picture. After reading about taxr.ai here, I decided to try it with the limited paperwork I had. I uploaded his W2 and a few bank statements, and the analysis immediately pointed out that there should be a Schedule C for his side business and investment income that wasn't being reported. Armed with this information, my lawyer requested the complete tax returns, and sure enough, we found significant additional income that hadn't been disclosed. The tool highlighted exactly what forms to ask for and what sections to focus on. Made a huge difference in my settlement outcome.

12 If your ex won't provide the full tax returns, you should know that getting ahold of someone at the IRS to help can be nearly impossible. I spent WEEKS trying to get tax transcripts during my divorce. Finally used https://claimyr.com to get through to an actual IRS agent. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically, they hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an agent picks up. I got my tax transcript issue resolved in one day after weeks of frustration. You can request tax transcripts which show most of the information from the 1040 if you're authorized (which might require a court order in divorce situations).

10 I was super skeptical about Claimyr when I first read about it here. Seemed too good to be true. But after my ex "conveniently" lost our joint tax returns from previous years and I needed copies, I tried it in desperation. Honestly, it worked exactly as described. I was prepared to waste another day on hold with the IRS, but Claimyr alerted me when an agent was ready to talk. The IRS agent walked me through my options for getting tax transcripts with my information on them, including our joint filing years. Complete game-changer during a stressful divorce. Still had to go through proper channels, but at least I could actually REACH someone to explain my situation.

18 Just wanted to add - while waiting for formal tax returns, check if your ex ever gave you joint FBAR forms (Report of Foreign Bank Accounts) if either of you had overseas accounts over $10,000. These forms are filed separately from regular tax returns and might show accounts you weren't aware of.

23 Pro tip: Ask for Schedule B of the 1040 specifically. That's where interest and dividends are reported AND there's a section that asks about foreign accounts. If your ex checked "yes" but you never knew about foreign accounts, that's a red flag to investigate further. I discovered my ex had an offshore account this way.

25 This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where my ex provided minimal financial documentation. One thing I learned from my attorney is that you can also request Schedule K-1 forms if your ex was involved in any partnerships, S-corporations, or LLCs. These show income from business partnerships that wouldn't appear on a W2. Also, don't forget about Schedule D for capital gains/losses from stock sales or property transactions. My ex "forgot" to mention he sold some rental property during our separation year, and this is where it showed up. The 1040 really is the complete picture - the W2 is just one piece of the puzzle. For anyone going through this, document everything and be persistent about requesting complete tax returns through your attorney. The difference between what's on a W2 versus the full 1040 can be substantial.