I got a message on turbo tax saying my employer withheld too much social security tax. What do I do to amend it?

[Opus 17]

For 2019, if any single employer withheld more than $8,239.80 in social security tax (box 4 on your W-2) then you must request a refund from your employer.

If you have more than one job and the total of all social security withheld was more than $8,239.80, there is a tax form to get a refund as part of your tax return and Turbotax will handle it.

If you do not have more than $8,239.80 in your W-2 box 4, then you made a mistake someplace.  Delete your W-2s and enter them again. 

[MayaD]

Review the amount you entered for box 3 and in box 4 of the W-2 to make sure you entered the correct amount.

If your entries are correct and your employer withheld too much, contact them and ask for:

1. A refund for the excess amount, and
2. A corrected W-2 (also called a W-2c) which shows the correct Box 3 and Box 4 amounts.

If you have multiple employers,you don't need to take any action. We'll automatically add the excess to your federal refund or subtract it from federal taxes you owe, whichever applies.

If you already filed your return, you need to amend to make the changes.

If the IRS rejects your return, fix it and resubmitted it again. 

If your return has been accepted, wait until your return has been fully processes and you received your refund ( if you are expecting a refund ), then amend your return. 

Here's how you amend your return:

1. Sign in to your account.
2. Scroll down to Your tax return & documents , select 2019 and then Amend (change) return. 
3. Select Amend using TurboTax Online.
4. Follow the instructions, your refund or tax due will change to 0. This is normal on amended returns.

Amended return can't be e-file, you need to print it and mail it in.

[VolvoGirl]

If you are married be sure each W2 is assigned to the right spouse.

[shilo5252]

I know it sounds impossible but I believe I may have found an error in the TurboTax formula.  When I entered my GROSS and my SOCIAL SECURITY WITHHELD from my employer's W-2, I got a TT message saying "It looks like you're due a refund from your employer.  Your employer withheld too much Social Security tax from your wages in 2021."  Here's what it says:

Social Security Tax Withheld:  $4,180 (which is correct)

Amount we calculated: $459

Excess amount withheld by your employer: $3720  

My GROSS for 2021 is $60157, so 6.2% of that should be $3730 (which means my employer did over-withhold by $449).

But here is where I believe the TurboTax formula is in error: I think it switched the two numbers. 

Here is what the notice SHOULD say:

Social Security Tax Withheld:  $4,180 (again, correct)

Amount we calculated: $3720 (which is 6.2%)

Excess amount withheld by your employer: $459

I have no idea who to report this to at TurboTax but if it is indeed an error in the formula, it needs to be corrected quickly.

Shilo

[email address removed]

[LenaH]

I completed a mock-up return for a taxpayer making $50,000. I entered $3,600 in social security tax ($500 more than 6.2%). The message I received was correct. What version of TurboTax are you using? 

@shilo5252

[VolvoGirl]

@shilo5252   Check boxes 3 & 4 on your W2. Box 4 should be 6.2% of box 3 up to a max of $8,853.60. So take the amount in box 3 and multiply it by .062. If box 4 is more than that you need to get a corrected W2 from your employer. But also go back and double check your W2 entries, you may have entered box 3 & 4 wrong. A lot of people who have asked this found they did enter an amount wrong.

Or check W2 box 12. You may have entered Code A by mistake.

A sure way to fix this is to delete the W2 and re-enter it. That may clear something out.   

What amounts are in box 3 & 4 on the W2?  Maybe you can post a screenshot of that screen saying you are due a refund.  Are you using the Online web version or the Desktop installed program?  

[VolvoGirl]

Box 3 for social security wages can be more than box 1 gross wages.  There are pretax items that are deducted from box 1 but not box 3.  Looks like you may have entered box 3 wrong.  Like left  the beginning 6 off of the amount.  If box 4 is $4,180 then box 3 should be 67,419.  

[Mhineman]

I believe there is an issue with turbo tax 2022. Doing my daughters taxes, she worked for one employer and only made $23,120.48 and paid $1433.47 in social security. Turbo tax is saying that she should have only paid $1309.47 and that she needs to request $124.00 from her employer? $23,120.48 x .062 = $1,433.469. So why is Turbo tax saying they calculated the tax to only be $1309.47?

[Opus 17]

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@Mhineman wrote:

I believe there is an issue with turbo tax 2022. Doing my daughters taxes, she worked for one employer and only made $23,120.48 and paid $1433.47 in social security. Turbo tax is saying that she should have only paid $1309.47 and that she needs to request $124.00 from her employer? $23,120.48 x .062 = $1,433.469. So why is Turbo tax saying they calculated the tax to only be $1309.47?

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Did she have pre-tax deductions for health insurance? What is the figure in box 3 of her W-2?  did she enter the W-2 correctly, or if she used a photo, was everything translated correctly?

[Mhineman]

Box 3 is $23120.48. I am doing her taxes and everything is correctly entered.

[Opus 17]

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@Mhineman wrote:

Box 3 is $23120.48. I am doing her taxes and everything is correctly entered.

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There is not widespread calculation error so I think there is something unique to your tax file.  I would start by deleting the W-2 completely, quitting and restarting, and then enter the W-2 again.  If that doesn't work, you may need to call customer support so they can look at the hidden program worksheets to find the problem.