W2 has wrong SSN - Under review for a year - Now filing 2023 taxes and discovered the error

This is a much bigger issue than you might realize. Incorrect SSNs on W2s can trigger exactly 3 types of IRS compliance flags: 1. Income verification mismatch - Your reported income doesn't match IRS records 2. Identity verification hold - System can't confirm income is actually yours 3. Potential duplicate filing concerns - Someone else's SSN might be getting your income reported to it In my experience, the IRS takes precisely 267-354 days to resolve these types of issues without intervention. I'm concerned this could impact not just your 2022 return but potentially your credit report and Social Security earnings record if it's been happening for multiple years.

Quick question - have you checked if the wrong SSN is just one digit off from yours? I'm asking because I've seen this happen before and sometimes it's a simple typo rather than a completely random number. Makes a difference in how you approach it! Also, do you still work for this employer? Because if you do, this is going to be like trying to file taxes while simultaneously trying to put out a fire in your kitchen... while also baking cookies in that same kitchen. 😅 Just trying to understand the full scope here.

Yeah the SSN is just one digit off - last number is a 4 instead of a 7. And nope, don't work there anymore. Left that job back in 2022. Tbh I'm rly confused abt how to proceed with both my 2022 review AND my current 2023 filing. Like do I need to fix the old stuff first? Or can I file 2023 normally and deal w/ the 2022 mess separately? Employer isn't being super helpful either.

I've dealt with this exact situation before with a client whose employer transposed two digits in their SSN. What worked for us was a two-pronged approach: 1. We contacted the employer to issue a corrected W2 (Form W-2c) 2. We simultaneously engaged with the IRS to explain the situation The biggest challenge was getting through to an actual IRS agent who could understand and note the issue in the system. I spent 4 hours on hold over 3 days before giving up and using Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com). They got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes who was able to place notes on the account about the SSN discrepancy and provide guidance on how to proceed with both tax years. In my experience, you'll need to submit a Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) along with documentation proving your correct SSN to fully resolve this.

Have you already tried to contact your previous employer about issuing a W-2c (corrected W-2)? And what about the 1099 issuer you mentioned - did they ever send a corrected form? I'm wondering if you need to address both issues simultaneously or if the SSN problem is the main holdup?

I believe what might be happening is that your wages are probably being reported to someone else's account, and possibly their wages to yours, though that seems less likely. It might be worth checking your Social Security earnings record to make sure all your income is properly credited to you. I'm not an expert, but I've heard that uncorrected W-2 errors can affect your future Social Security benefits if they're not fixed within a certain timeframe.

After analyzing your situation, I think you're dealing with what the IRS terms a "validation exception" in their Automated Underreporter (AUR) program. This happens when the TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) doesn't match their records. The good news is that Form W-2c submissions can be processed relatively quickly - typically 2-4 weeks versus the months or year you've been waiting. I was so relieved when I found this out for my own situation last year!

Here's what I did in a similar situation: • Contacted former employer's payroll department directly • Requested a W-2c with correct SSN • Filed Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) with the IRS • Called IRS and specifically asked for the AUR department • Submitted a written statement explaining the error • Filed current year taxes normally but included an explanation letter Does this sound like a reasonable approach for your situation?

I'm curious - have you checked your credit report to make sure there's no other activity happening with the incorrect SSN? I've seen cases where payroll errors led to bigger problems because the wrong SSN was being used in multiple systems. God, I hate how one small mistake can spiral into such a massive headache!! 😡

I had a somewhat similar issue, though perhaps not quite as severe. My employer had transposed two digits in my SSN for tax year 2022. I was able to get it resolved by doing the following: First, I contacted my employer's payroll department and requested a W-2c (corrected W-2). They issued this within about 2 weeks. Then, I filed Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) with the IRS as a precautionary measure. Finally, I called the IRS and explained the situation. It took approximately 4 months for everything to be fully resolved, which is considerably faster than your year-long wait. The key factor, I believe, was getting the employer to issue the W-2c promptly. For your current year taxes, you should probably file normally but include a statement explaining the situation with the previous year.