I am in NJ. My W-2 has a box 14 item labeled HEALTH BENEFITS. What does that mean, and which category does it belong to?

[TomK2023 · Accepted solution]

Enter it as "Other".  Employers can put just about anything in box 14; it's a catch-all for items that don't have their own dedicated box on the W-2.

For example: Commonly grouped together as Unemployment Insurance (UI), Workforce Development Partnership Fund (WF) and Supplemental Workforce Fund (SWF).  These contributions are withheld from your wages by your employer.  Your employer may report these contributions in Box 14 on your W-2.

[metrangia]

Thank you.  Do any of the amounts in box 14 affect my taxes, meaning will my refund/payment by higher/lower if I choose the wrong category?  It's difficult to figure out what some of these cryptic descriptions are, and I don't want to make a mistake.

[TomK2023 · Accepted solution]

No, probably not.  

Nothing in box 14 affects your federal return.  Some states may use box 14 for items that affect your state taxes.

Just enter your W-2 information as is.  The program will figure out if it impacts your return or not; if it needs more information, it will ask you.