Box 16 and 17 W2 issue

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
May 31, 2020
2 replies
0 views

Hello, I know this has been previously asked but I wasn't clear on all the steps to solve this. Please HELP!

I live and work in NJ only. Have 2 W-2s that have NJ in box 15, blank Employer State ID, blank in box 16, and FLI amount in box 17. I then have another row of these with state wages and state income tax withheld. When this loads into Turbo Tax, the program tells me that box 16 can't be blank. If I enter the same state wages as in the other row of box 16, won't it double my NJ income? I read that FLI (for NJ) should be entered in box 14, even if it's listed by employer in box 17. HOWEVER, do I then just remove this row all together and only leave stage wages and income tax withheld? OR should I just enter $0 in box 16 corresponding to FLI? I found that when I do either of these options my NJ tax refund increases SIGNIFICANTLY, which makes me worry that it's wrong. HOWEVER, if I LEAVE and add wages to both rows (i.e. by State wages and by FLI), I noticed my state wages were DOUBLED by Turbo Tax on Form NJ 2450 (it's not common to have this form but I do as it seems I overpaid the UI/WF/SWF). In any case, I am VERY concerned. I was one click away from filing... PLEASE HELP. I am sure I am not the only one puzzled by this. THANK YOU!

TurboTax Deluxe Online

Best answer by SteamTrain

Just eliminate the entire box 15-16-17 line for the NJ FLI on the software form...and put that $$ amount in box 14 instead. There is a selection for the description in box 14 for NJ FLI..

Apparently NJ want to see the FLI on the actual paper W-2, that your employer issued, in box 17 (if you end up having to mail-file on paper), but it doesn't work there at all with the tax software....so put it up in box 14 for the software entry.

Only your actual NJ wages and NJ income tax withholding go in boxes 16 & 17 (with "NJ" & the proper NJ ID number in the two parts of box 15 )

_________________________________________

And just to be sure you understand W-2 entry....if you had multiple employers, each separate employer's data goes into it's own separate software w-2 form. AND... Each employer may send out a W-2 with several W-2 sheets (in case you have to mail file), but all the W-2 data from that employer goes into one software W-2 form.

SteamTrainAnswer

Level 15

Just eliminate the entire box 15-16-17 line for the NJ FLI on the software form...and put that $$ amount in box 14 instead. There is a selection for the description in box 14 for NJ FLI..

Only your actual NJ wages and NJ income tax withholding go in boxes 16 & 17 (with "NJ" & the proper NJ ID number in the two parts of box 15 )

_________________________________________

____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*

slava524Author

Level 2

Thank you so much! Wow, so now that I eliminated that row (for each of the employers that had it) and added that FLI tax in box 14 (of course leaving 15, 16, 17 as you stated with state tax wages and income tax) , my NJ refund has dramatically increased... I will keep going through it, I just hope it's right (almost makes me nervous rather than excited). I also wonder if I missed this in all the prior years I was filing... I have been with one of these employers for years and I am pretty sure my W-2s have had it this way for a while (if not all of last 10 years) and unfortunately I am pretty sure I just kept entering state tax wages in the "blank" row of box 16 next to FLI tax. Should I consider getting tax professional help to review and see if I have overpaid NJ tax due to this? Thank you again!

SteamTrain

Level 15

@slava524 I'd wait a bit yet.....I "think" this is how it was handled in the past....but I really don't have NJ software myself. Let's check with a couple superusers who actually file in NJ.

@maglib

@rjs

Either of Y'all do NJ regularly. Is the procedure I posted here for NJ FLI correct?....just use box 14.

Or did TTX change their software to somehow allow people to put their NJ FLI $$ in box 17, with some allowed non-standard Designation in box 15. Certainly, box 16 would have to be empty .

___________________________

Certainly, the current TTX FAQ about NJ FLI still says to only put in box 14:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/where-should-i-enter-new-jersey-family-leave-insurance-nj-fli/01/25992

____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*

KirstiAmber

Level 2

WAIT TILL AFTER JANUARY 29TH! THE FORMS WILL GET UPDATED! DO NOT EDIT YOURSELF LIKE STATED BY OTHERS!🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫

adam-penn

Level 2

Well it's after January 29th and this issue still persists.

If I entered it on line 14 as directed, my state return goes down by $200. Can someone who knows what they're talking about please reach out with a viable solution?

DMarkM1

Level 15

As noted above the correct procedure is for each employer that sent you a W2 that has FLI in box 17 you should move that amount to box 14 and select the NJ FLI category. Delete that line 15/16/17 from your TurboTax W2 entries.

If that employer also withheld taxes for NJ you will need to have a state line (boxes 15/16/17) showing in Box 15 NJ as the state, the state ID number (you can use the FED ID number without dashes on your W2, if needed), the wages in box 16 and amount withheld in box 17.

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"