W2C form instead of corrected W2 - what should I expect?

You should wait for the corrected form before filing. The W2C (Corrected Wage and Tax Statement) is specifically designed for this situation - when an employer needs to correct information on an already issued W2. The W2C will show the originally reported information, the correct information, and the difference between the two. When you receive it, you'll need both your original W2 and the W2C to file your taxes properly. Most tax software can handle this situation - there will typically be options to enter both the original W2 and the correction information. As for timing, employers are required to issue corrected W2s "as soon as possible" after they discover an error, but there's unfortunately no specific deadline in the tax code. However, they should be prioritizing this fix since it affects everyone's ability to file accurately.

After my employer messed up my W2 last year, I was super stressed trying to sort it all out. That's when I found https://taxr.ai and it was a lifesaver! Their system analyzed both my original W2 and the W2C I eventually received, then explained exactly how to file correctly with both forms. The tool spotted a deduction I would've missed without the proper forms that saved me over $800!

I checked out taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and it really does work! I uploaded my corrected 1099-MISC and it immediately showed me exactly what changed between the two forms (turns out my contractor had reported box 3 income incorrectly). The system generated a clear report showing which forms I needed to submit for my amendment and even calculated the exact difference in my tax liability. Saved me from making a costly mistake on my amendment!

If your employer is struggling to get corrected W2s out, you might end up waiting weeks for this to get resolved. When I had a similar issue in 2023, I spent DAYS trying to get through to the IRS for guidance. Eventually found https://claimyr.com and their service got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of the hours of hold time I was experiencing. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they wait on hold for you and call when an agent is ready. The IRS agent explained exactly what I needed to document while waiting for my corrected form.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway because I was desperate to talk to someone about my W2C issue. The service actually worked exactly as described. I went about my day while they waited on hold with the IRS (3 hours and 17 minutes according to their tracker!). When an agent was available, I got a call and was connected within seconds. The IRS agent confirmed I could use Form 4852 as a substitute if my employer continues to delay sending the W2C. Never been happier to be proven wrong about something!

My company did this a few years ago and it was a mess. They ended up sending the W2Cs in late March. From what I understand, the payroll company can issue a W2C that just shows the corrections rather than a completely new W2. You'll need both forms when you file. I'd suggest reaching out directly to your HR or payroll department to get a more specific timeline rather than waiting for company-wide updates.

Has anyone here used TurboTax to handle a W2 and W2C combo? I'm wondering if I should switch to a different software this year since I've never dealt with this situation before.

I went through this exact situation last year and it was incredibly frustrating! My employer took almost 8 weeks to finally send out the W2C forms. Here's what I learned from that experience: First, definitely wait for the corrected form before filing. I know it's tempting to file early, especially if you're expecting a refund, but trust me - dealing with an amended return later is much more of a headache than just waiting. The W2C will clearly show what was wrong on your original W2 and what the correct information should be. When you do get it, you'll enter information from both forms when filing - most tax software handles this pretty smoothly. One thing that helped me was being the "squeaky wheel" with HR. I started emailing them weekly for updates after the third week of waiting. Turns out they had been getting the runaround from their payroll company too, but my persistent check-ins helped keep the issue visible and prioritized. If your company continues to drag their feet past mid-March, that's when I'd consider reaching out to the IRS about your options. But hopefully they'll get their act together before then!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! My employer sent out a similar "oops we messed up everyone's W2s" email about a month ago, and we're still waiting. It's so frustrating when you just want to get your taxes filed and move on. From what I've researched, it sounds like waiting for the W2C is definitely the right call, even though it's painful. I've been checking with our HR department every Friday for updates, and they keep saying "any day now" but nothing materializes. One thing I found helpful was asking HR for a written timeline or at least acknowledgment of when they discovered the error and what steps they're taking to fix it. Having that documentation might be useful if this drags on much longer and we need to explore other options like Form 4852. Has your company given you any indication of what specific information was incorrect on the original W2s? I'm curious if it's something major like federal withholding amounts or just smaller details like state information.