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Wrong State Address on W2 - My Company Lists Their Office Address Instead of My Home Address

I'm currently in a weird situation with my W2 and need some advice. I work for a small company where all employees are 100% remote. The issue is that I live in a completely different state than where the company is headquartered, but they've put their office address as MY address on my W2. The company office address appears in the field where my actual home address should be. Is this a normal practice for remote workers? I've never encountered this before and I'm getting worried about how this might affect my state tax filing. Will I run into complications because the address listed on my W2 doesn't match my actual residence? Has anyone dealt with something similar? I'm especially concerned since I'll need to file state taxes for where I actually live, not where my company is based. Could this trigger any red flags with the IRS or state tax agencies? Really appreciate any insights or advice on how to handle this!

Sarah Jones

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This is definitely not standard practice. Your W2 should reflect your actual home address, not the company's office address. This matters a lot for state tax purposes because you're taxed based on where you physically perform the work (your home state in this case) and sometimes also where the company is located. Contact your HR or payroll department immediately and explain the situation. They need to issue a corrected W2 (called a W2-c) with your actual home address. This is important because tax authorities use this information to determine your state tax obligations. When you file your taxes, you'll need to file a resident tax return in your home state. You may also need to file a non-resident return in the company's state if that state has rules requiring it. But the first step is definitely getting that W2 corrected so there's no confusion about your actual residence.

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What if the company refuses to issue a corrected W2? My employer did something similar and when I asked for a correction they said it wasn't necessary and to "just file with my correct address anyway." Is that going to cause problems?

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Sarah Jones

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If your employer refuses to issue a corrected W2, you should still file your taxes using your correct home address. The address on the W2 doesn't actually impact the tax calculation - the critical information is the state listed in Box 15 and the state wages and withholding in Boxes 16 and 17. If the wrong state is listed in Box 15, that's a more significant problem. In that case, you should file Form 4852 (Substitute for W2) with your correct information along with your tax return. Make sure to explain the situation in the form. Keep documentation of your attempts to get the W2 corrected as well.

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Emily Sanjay

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I had a similar issue last year and found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) incredibly helpful in figuring out how to handle the situation. I uploaded my incorrect W2 and my work-from-home documentation, and their system analyzed everything and provided step-by-step guidance on how to proceed with my state taxes despite the address discrepancy. What's particularly useful about taxr.ai is that it recognizes these unusual tax situations that standard tax software often doesn't handle well. It helped me determine which state tax forms I needed to file and how to document my actual work location versus the company address.

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Jordan Walker

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Does it work for contractors too? I'm a 1099 worker and my client has my old address from two states ago. Been wondering if I need to worry about this.

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Natalie Adams

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I'm a bit skeptical - isn't this something a regular accountant could help with? What makes this AI tool better for addressing state tax complications?

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Emily Sanjay

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Yes, it absolutely works for contractors too. In fact, it might be even more helpful in your situation since 1099 workers often have more complicated tax situations. You can upload your 1099 forms and it'll help clarify any address discrepancies and how they might impact your state filing obligations. As for whether an accountant could help - sure, a good accountant definitely could handle this. What makes taxr.ai different is accessibility and cost-effectiveness. You can get immediate guidance without scheduling an appointment, and it specializes in these niche tax situations that come up with remote work, which some generalist accountants might not deal with regularly.

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Jordan Walker

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Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and it was exactly what I needed. I uploaded my 1099 with the wrong address and answered a few questions about where I actually performed the work. The system immediately identified that I needed to file in my current state of residence and explained exactly how to handle the address discrepancy on my tax forms. It also provided documentation I could keep with my tax records explaining the situation in case of any questions from tax authorities. Definitely made me feel more confident about filing correctly despite the address error on my forms!

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I dealt with this exact problem last tax season. After weeks of getting nowhere with my company's HR, I finally got help by using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an actual IRS agent. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was honestly shocked at how quickly they got me connected to a real person at the IRS who explained that this happens more than you'd think with remote workers. The agent walked me through how to file properly when your W2 has the wrong address and how to document everything to avoid potential issues. Saved me hours of stress and waiting on hold!

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Amara Torres

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Sorry but this sounds too good to be true. The IRS is practically unreachable these days. You're telling me some service magically gets you through when millions of people can't get anyone on the phone?

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Mason Kaczka

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I think everyone is overcomplicating this. I've worked remotely across different states for years. The address on your W2 is primarily for mailing purposes - it doesn't affect your tax liability. What matters is: 1. The state code in Box 15 2. State wages in Box 16 3. State tax withheld in Box 17 If those are wrong, THAT'S when you need a corrected W2. If just the address is wrong but the state withholding info is correct, you can file normally using your actual address on your tax forms. The IRS and state tax agencies match your info based on your SSN, not your address.

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Drake

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But what if the state code in Box 15 is also for the company's state, not my home state? That's what I'm worried about - I'm pretty sure they've set everything up as if I'm working in their state when I'm actually in a completely different one.

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Mason Kaczka

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That's a more serious issue. If Box 15 shows the wrong state and they're withholding taxes for a state where you don't actually work, you need to address this immediately with your employer. You're potentially paying taxes to the wrong state, which can create a mess. You'll likely need to file a nonresident return in the incorrect state to get those taxes refunded, and make sure you're fulfilling your tax obligations in your actual state. Some states have reciprocity agreements that simplify this, but others don't. Your employer should absolutely correct this - they're setting you up for potential tax complications and possibly underpaying your actual state tax liability.

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Sophia Russo

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Hey, tax preparer here - this happens ALL THE TIME with remote workers since the pandemic. Here's the quick fix: File your taxes using your ACTUAL address regardless of what's on the W2. Your physical work location determines your state tax obligations. If Box 15 shows the wrong state, you'll need to file: - A resident return in your actual state - A non-resident return in the company's state to get refunded any withholdings there For next year, submit a new W-4 AND state withholding form to your employer clearly stating your correct address and state. Some companies don't understand remote work tax obligations yet!

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Evelyn Xu

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Would TurboTax or H&R Block handle this situation correctly if I just input everything as is? or do I need specialty software?

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TurboTax and H&R Block can definitely handle this - they're designed to catch these discrepancies. When you enter your W2 info, the software will notice if the state withholding doesn't match your actual residence and guide you through filing the necessary returns. Just make sure to enter your ACTUAL home address when setting up your profile, not what's on the W2. The software will automatically generate the resident return for your state and help you file a non-resident return for the company's state if needed to claim refunds. Most major tax software handles multi-state situations pretty well these days. That said, if you want extra peace of mind or have a particularly complex situation, consulting with a tax professional for the first year might be worth it to make sure everything is set up correctly.

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Aisha Khan

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I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! My company has been treating all remote employees as if we work from their headquarters state, which has created a nightmare for tax filing. What I learned from my accountant is that you need to be really careful about Box 15 on your W2 - if it shows the wrong state code, you're essentially being treated as if you work in a state where you don't actually reside. The key thing is to document everything about your remote work arrangement. Keep records of where you actually perform your work, any home office setup, and communications with your employer about your work location. This becomes important if there are ever questions about your tax residency. One thing that helped me was submitting a formal written request to HR for the W2 correction, not just a casual email. Include your actual home address and clearly state that you perform 100% of your work from your home state. If they still refuse, you have documentation of your attempts to get it corrected, which can be helpful if you need to file Form 4852 or explain the situation to tax authorities later. Also, check if your state has any specific rules about remote workers - some states have gotten more aggressive about taxing remote workers whose companies are based there, even if the employee lives elsewhere. It's worth understanding both states' positions on this issue.

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Rita Jacobs

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This is really helpful advice! I'm curious about the documentation part - what specific types of records should I be keeping? I have my lease agreement showing my home address and some emails about working remotely, but I'm wondering if there are other documents that would be particularly useful to have on hand in case of questions from tax authorities. Also, do you know if there's a timeframe for how long companies have to issue corrected W2s once you request them? My HR department keeps saying they'll "look into it" but it's been weeks now and I'm getting nervous about filing deadlines.

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Zoe Stavros

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Great question about documentation! In addition to your lease and remote work emails, you should keep records of: utility bills showing your home address during work periods, any home office expense receipts, internet/phone bills used for work, and if possible, screenshots or records of video calls that show you working from home. Regarding the W2 correction timeline - employers are required to issue corrected W2s "as soon as practicable" after discovering an error, but there's no specific legal deadline. However, since tax filing season has deadlines, I'd recommend giving HR one more formal written request with a specific timeframe (like 10 business days) and mention that you may need to file Form 4852 if the correction isn't provided in time. If they continue to delay, you can still file your taxes on time using Form 4852 with the correct information. The IRS understands these situations happen, especially with the increase in remote work. Just make sure to attach a statement explaining the situation and your attempts to get the W2 corrected.

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Mei Lin

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This is such a timely discussion! As someone who's been fully remote for the past 3 years across multiple companies, I've seen this issue become increasingly common. What's frustrating is that many employers still haven't adapted their payroll systems to properly handle remote workers in different states. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given - if you're planning to stay with this company long-term, it's worth having a conversation with them about establishing proper multi-state payroll procedures. Some companies are hesitant because it means they have to register to do business in your state and handle additional tax compliance, but it's really their responsibility to get this right. In the meantime, definitely keep detailed records of your work location. I actually keep a simple spreadsheet tracking which days I work from where (home office, coffee shops, etc.) just in case there are ever questions about my primary work location. It might seem like overkill, but with some states getting more aggressive about taxing remote workers, having clear documentation of where you actually perform your work duties can be really valuable. Also, don't panic about the address discrepancy - as others have mentioned, it's the state tax withholding information that really matters for your filing obligations. The address issue is annoying but fixable!

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