W-2 box 15 has no state blank and employer state id is missing - What to do?

This is actually pretty common, especially with multi-state employers. The missing information in Box 15 can definitely cause problems when filing, but there are ways to handle it. First, even though Box 15 is empty, the fact that Boxes 16 and 17 have amounts means state taxes were withheld somewhere. Based on your situation, it's likely either Nevada or Arizona (though Nevada doesn't have state income tax, so it's almost certainly Arizona). I'd recommend reaching out to your employer's payroll department right away. They need to issue you a corrected W-2 with the proper state information and state ID number in Box 15. While waiting, you can look at your last paycheck stub from 2024 - it usually shows the state tax information that should match what's on your W-2. If you're in a rush, you can file with the information you have, but you'll likely need to file an amended return later once you get the corrected W-2.

I struggled with a similar W-2 problem last year and spent hours trying to figure it out myself. I finally found this tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me solve the issue without having to wait weeks for a corrected form from my unresponsive employer. They have this feature where you can upload your incomplete W-2 and other tax documents, and their AI analyzes everything to identify issues like missing state IDs. It even helped me determine which state my employer had been withholding for based on my payment history and where the company operates. Saved me from having to file for an extension while waiting for a corrected form. Instead of stressing about box 15 being blank, I just uploaded my documents and got clear guidance on how to proceed with filing correctly.

I was super skeptical about taxr.ai at first (as you could probably tell from my earlier comment), but after struggling with my employer who kept promising a corrected W-2 but never delivered, I decided to give it a shot. The tool actually helped me identify that my missing state ID was for Illinois, even though I had worked in multiple states. It guided me through getting the information I needed directly from the Illinois Department of Revenue by providing the exact form to use and what to request. The AI was able to match my withholding amounts to the state tax rates and narrow it down. What impressed me was that instead of just guessing, it showed me the evidence for why it determined Illinois was the state I needed, and then gave me step-by-step instructions for obtaining the missing information. Way better than waiting on my employer who never seemed to prioritize my request.

If you're still having trouble getting your employer to provide a corrected W-2 with the state info in box 15, you might need to contact the IRS directly. I had the same problem last year and spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS help line with no luck - constant busy signals and disconnects. I finally used this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent confirmed that the employer is required to provide complete W-2 information and gave me the official process to follow. They also explained that I could file Form 4852 (Substitute for W-2) if my employer continued to refuse providing a corrected form. This was crucial because my employer was dragging their feet and tax day was approaching fast.

I need to eat some humble pie here. After my skeptical comment about Claimyr, I was still desperate to get through to the IRS about my own W-2 issues and decided to try it anyway. It actually worked exactly as advertised. I set it up at around 8:30 in the morning, went about my day, and got a call back at 10:15 letting me know an IRS agent was on the line. I was honestly shocked it worked so efficiently. The IRS agent walked me through the process of filing Form 4852 as a substitute for my incorrect W-2, explained exactly what documentation I needed to provide, and even gave me tips on how to estimate the state allocation when my employer had failed to specify it. This was after my employer had ignored THREE requests for a corrected form. Sometimes being proven wrong is actually a good thing when it solves your problem!

If you're in a real hurry and can't wait for a corrected W-2, you might be able to use your last December paystub to figure out which state the taxes were withheld for. Usually the state abbreviation is listed somewhere on your paystub next to the state tax withholding. Most payroll systems break down taxes by state, so even if your W-2 is missing the info in box 15, your paystubs should show it. Just make sure the state withholding on your last paystub roughly matches the amount in box 17 on your W-2.

Just a heads up that Nevada doesn't have state income tax, so if you lived there for most of the year, the state tax withheld ($1,142) would definitely be for Arizona. Even though you only lived in AZ for a couple weeks in December, your employer might have withheld Arizona state tax for your entire employment if that's where the company is based.

Just wanted to add that if you do end up filing Form 4852 as a substitute for your W-2, make sure to keep detailed records of all your attempts to get the corrected information from your employer. The IRS may ask for documentation showing that you made a good faith effort to obtain the correct W-2. Also, since you moved from Nevada to Arizona mid-December, you'll likely need to file as a part-year resident in Arizona. Arizona has specific rules about when you become a resident for tax purposes, and since your employer was withholding Arizona taxes the whole time, you may actually owe additional state taxes or be entitled to a refund depending on how long you were actually an Arizona resident. I'd recommend checking Arizona's part-year resident requirements on their Department of Revenue website before filing to make sure you're handling the residency piece correctly along with the missing W-2 information.

This is a great discussion with lots of helpful advice! I just wanted to add one more option that might help if you're still stuck waiting for your employer to respond. You can also try contacting the Arizona Department of Revenue directly at (602) 716-6932. Since it sounds like Arizona is the state that withheld your taxes, they might be able to help you identify your employer's state ID number if you provide them with your employer's name and federal EIN (which should be in box b on your W-2). Arizona's tax department is generally pretty responsive, and they deal with this issue frequently. They can sometimes look up the employer in their system and provide you with the missing state ID information over the phone. This could save you from having to wait for a corrected W-2 if your employer continues to drag their feet. Also, since you mentioned using TurboTax, they have a feature where you can enter "Unknown" for the state ID temporarily and then amend your return later once you get the correct information. It's not ideal, but it's an option if you're running up against the deadline and still don't have the corrected form.