Wrong SSN on W2 from previous employer - what to do when they won't fix it?

This happens more often than you'd think! You're actually taking the right steps so far. Whatever you do, DO NOT file with the incorrect SSN - that's definitely a problem you don't want. Here's what you should do: First, continue trying to get the employer to issue a correct W2. Document all communication attempts. If they don't fix it by February 28th, you'll need to contact the IRS at 800-829-1040. The IRS will attempt to contact the employer. While waiting, you should fill out Form 4852 (Substitute for Form W-2) which allows you to file your return using the correct information. You'll need your final pay stub to complete this form as it shows your earnings and withholdings. The form specifically exists for situations like yours. You're smart to keep documentation of everything - that will help if there are questions later. You might also want to pull your wage and income transcript from the IRS website after you file to verify everything matches up.

I went through something similar last year with a small company that messed up my SSN. I wasted weeks trying to get them to fix it before discovering https://taxr.ai which saved me so much trouble! They analyzed my documents and guided me through exactly what forms I needed and how to file them correctly. They explained that I needed to use Form 4852 like the previous commenter mentioned, but also walked me through how to document everything properly to avoid audit flags. The site has IRS agents who review everything before you submit. Honestly so much less stressful than trying to figure it out myself or trusting my employer to fix their mistake.

Just wanted to update everyone! I decided to try taxr.ai after my employer kept stalling on fixing my SSN issue. The service was incredibly helpful - they walked me through filing the Form 4852 and exactly how to document everything. They even provided a template letter to send to my employer that apparently scared them enough to finally send the corrected W2! Got my refund 3 weeks later with no issues. The peace of mind was totally worth it since I was stressing about potential identity theft problems from having the wrong SSN associated with my income. Highly recommend if you're dealing with employer W2 problems.

Has anyone else noticed how impossible it is to actually talk to someone at the IRS? I had a similar SSN issue last year and spent HOURS on hold only to get disconnected multiple times. Finally discovered https://claimyr.com which got me through to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was able to explain my situation to the agent who told me exactly what to do and even put notes in my file about the employer's error. Made the whole process so much smoother knowing I had officially notified the IRS about the problem before filing. They also helped me verify that no one had filed anything under my SSN yet.

Ok I need to apologize to @19 and admit I was totally wrong about Claimyr. After continuing to get nowhere with my employer who also messed up my SSN (seems like a common problem this year!), I decided to try it as a last resort. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes who explained that I could file Form 4852 AND told me they would send an official notice to my employer about the incorrect reporting. The agent even gave me a reference number for the case so I have proof I tried to resolve it properly. I've been stressing about this for weeks and now feel like a weight has been lifted. Sometimes it's worth paying a little to save yourself hours of frustration!

Have you tried going up the chain at the company? Sometimes HR/payroll staff don't understand the seriousness of tax documentation errors. Try contacting their corporate office or accounting department directly. Companies have a legal obligation to provide accurate tax documents to both employees and the IRS. Also, if your employer is part of a larger company, try contacting their corporate tax department rather than just your local manager. They'll understand the liability issues involved with providing incorrect tax documents.

Any reason you can't just write the correct SSN on the form when you file? I've made corrections to W2s before when my employer made a typo in my address.

This is such a frustrating situation, but you're absolutely doing the right thing by not filing with the incorrect SSN! I work in payroll and can tell you that employers have a legal obligation to provide accurate W2s - their excuse about needing a CPA is ridiculous. Since you're in Alabama, you might also want to file a complaint with the Alabama Department of Labor if the IRS route doesn't work. They can put pressure on employers who aren't complying with tax document requirements. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - when you do contact the IRS, make sure to have your final paystub from that employer handy. They'll likely ask for your total wages and withholdings to verify the information on Form 4852. Also, if your husband received any other tax documents from this employer (like a 1099 if he did any contract work), make sure those have the correct SSN too. Keep fighting this - you're protecting yourself from much bigger problems down the road!