Letter from IRS wants me to justify 1040 line 17 (federal income tax withheld). my W2s are less than # on line 17? what am I missing?

[VolvoGirl]

Can you figure out the difference?  Maybe you typed an amount in W2 box 2 wrong or entered a W2 twice?   Did you make any estimated payments?  Those sometimes show up on the wrong line. Did you get any 1099R?  

[Anonymous]

your say your actual w-2's show less than the amount on line 17.   you'll need to look at the actual return to see what you entered.   you probably made an error in entering one or more w-2's. 

[Critter-3 · Accepted solution]

To open the return and look at the input screens after filing :  

NOTE:  When you open your return back up, do not make any changes in it if it's already been filed.  If you later have to amend the return, it has to start off exactly as it was when it was originally filed.

• Log in and at the Tax Home or in the section "Your Tax Returns & Documents" for 2019, look for a link "Add a State."
• Click on "Add a State."  (you don't really add one.  That's just to open your return back up.)
• After the return is open, click in the left menu column on TAX TOOLS, then PRINT CENTER.
• Then choose "Print, save, view this year's return."
• The next screen should offer some options:  "Just my tax returns", or "include government worksheets (optional)", or "include government and TurboTax worksheets (optional.)"
• See if one of those PDFs has what you need.  The latter has the most pages.

NOTE:  Remember all PDF tax documents and tax data files are very sensitive files, since they contain your personal ID info, financial data, and possibly bank account numbers, etc.  Be sure to store them safely and securely to guard against computer theft, hacking, etc.

[jrbellebrj]

worked GREAT!

thanks

[sbseattle]

I've been confused by this in the past as well - the line 17 amount was more than the sum of my withheld taxes on W-2s and 1099s. For me, the answer was "Additional Medicare Tax" from Form 8959, line 24. Basically, if you get charged the Additional Medicare Tax (on top of the core 1.45%), that additional amount (8959, line 24) is to added to your tax paid (line 17 on 1040).