What is copy B of W-2 form? Need help attaching it to my mailed tax return

Your W-2 form actually comes with multiple copies, each labeled for a specific purpose. Copy B is specifically labeled "To Be Filed With Employee's FEDERAL Tax Return" and is the one you need to attach to your paper federal return. When you get your W-2 from your employer, it typically comes as a multi-page document with perforated edges so you can separate the different copies. Look for the one that specifically says "Copy B" on it (usually near the top). This is the copy the IRS wants you to include when mailing your federal return. Don't send Copy A (that's for the Social Security Administration) or any of the other copies. If you can't find your Copy B or accidentally used it for something else, you can usually use Copy C instead, but make sure to write "Copy B" on it so the IRS knows what it is.

I had the exact same problem last year! I was so confused about all the different copies of my W-2. I ended up using this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which basically analyzed all my tax documents and told me exactly what to do with each form. It showed me which copy was Copy B and explained I needed to physically attach it to my 1040 before mailing. Their document review feature was super helpful because it highlighted exactly where on my W-2 the "Copy B" label was located and gave me specific instructions for each tax form I had. Saved me tons of confusion and probably prevented my return from being delayed.

I wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai that I asked about earlier. I went ahead and tried it last weekend after getting frustrated with my tax forms. The service actually exceeded my expectations! It immediately identified my W-2 copies and highlighted exactly which one was Copy B. The interface was super straightforward - I just took pictures of my documents with my phone and it analyzed everything right away. I was especially impressed that it caught that I had accidentally mixed up some of my state and federal forms. Definitely worth checking out if you're confused about which forms go where like I was!

If you're having trouble understanding your tax forms and you're worried about making mistakes, you might also consider contacting the IRS directly for guidance. But as someone who's tried calling them multiple times this tax season, good luck actually reaching a human! I spent HOURS on hold before giving up. I ended up using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which basically called the IRS for me and held my place in line. They have a demo video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. When an agent was about to pick up, I got a call back and was connected immediately. The IRS agent walked me through exactly which W-2 copy to include and how to properly attach it to my return.

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it since I was desperate to ask about some issues with my tax transcript. I figured it couldn't hurt to try. Well, I'm shocked to report it actually worked! After three previous attempts waiting on hold for over an hour each time and getting disconnected, Claimyr got me through to an IRS agent in about 35 minutes. I didn't have to sit there listening to that awful hold music either - I just got a call when an agent was ready. The agent cleared up my W-2 question AND helped me with my transcript issue. Seriously wasn't expecting it to work, but it definitely delivered.

Just a tip from someone who's worked at a tax prep office - when attaching your W-2 Copy B to your return, use a small paper clip at the top of your 1040 form. Don't use staples as they damage the documents and cause problems for the IRS scanning systems. Also make sure you're sending it to the correct IRS processing center based on your state - the address is in the 1040 instructions.

I mailed my return last year without attaching my W-2 and nothing bad happened - got my refund just fine. Are we sure this is actually required? Seems like they should be able to verify the info electronically anyway.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I found my Copy B - it was clearly labeled "To Be Filed With Employee's FEDERAL Tax Return" just like Chloe mentioned. I was overthinking it way too much. For anyone else confused like I was, here's what I learned: Look for the specific Copy B section on your W-2 (it's usually perforated so you can tear it off cleanly), attach it to the front of your 1040 with a small paper clip (not staples!), and make sure you're mailing to the right IRS processing center for your state. I'm getting this in the mail tomorrow so I can stop stressing about the deadline. Really appreciate this community helping out a tax newbie!

Great advice from everyone here! As someone who's been filing paper returns for years, I can confirm that Copy B is absolutely required for federal returns. One additional tip - if you have multiple W-2s from different employers, make sure to attach ALL of the Copy B forms. I made that mistake once and had to mail in the missing ones separately, which delayed my processing. Also, double-check that all the information on your W-2 matches what you entered on your 1040. Even small typos in names or amounts can cause issues. The IRS computers are pretty good at catching discrepancies between what you report and what your employer reported. Good luck getting that return in the mail on time!