What if my employer entered the wrong social security number on my w-2?

[e-John · Accepted solution]

you will want your employer to issue a corrected W-2, called a W-2c.  This will take some time.

[achturbo1]

this doesn't tell you what to do if you already have the W-2c, or what to do when you get it?

[macuser_22]

What to do?  Enter the correct W-2 in place of the wrong one.

[achturbo1]

I have W-2 from two different employers.  One has the correct SSN and the other does not.  I received the W-2C, buth there isn't anyplace on turbotax to enter the wrong social security number.

[macuser_22]

Just go back to the W-2 section - Wages & Income, I'll choose what I will work on, Wages & Salaries, W-2.

Edit the W-2 that is wrong and make  the necessary corrections.

[achturbo1]

I don't see where the SSN is part of the information that gets entered, just wage data...am I missing something?

[macuser_22]

Oh - you are correct, your SSN is auto-populated from your personal information so you really do not need to change anything - it is already correct on your return.  The W-2C will be sent to the IRS so that it will match what is on return.   I forgot that your SSN is not something that comes from the W-2 in the TurboTax interview (they do that precisely so you cannot get the wrong SSN entered on the W-2).

[achturbo1]

Do I need to send W-2C to the IRS?

[macuser_22]

Your employer sends it.    You don't send anything if you e-file.  If you mail file you attach the W-2C to the tax return.

[achturbo1]

THANK YOU!!

[stacy656]

what happens when the employer was aware of their mistake and still sent me a w2 with the wrong number on it? should i still file my return correctly and just let itself sort out on its own?

[macuser_22]

No, contact your employer for a corrected W-2.  It will not sort out on it's own.  The IRS gets copy of the W-2 and so does the Social Security Administration.   Your SS tax payments will not get credited to you if the wrong SSN is on the W-2.

If your employer refuses to fix the error, then  contact the IRS for assistance.  

See this IRS topic for an incorrect W-2 if your employer will not correct it.
<a href="http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc154.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc154.html</a>

[ldeans2]

Do I have to wait for the corrected W-2 to file my taxes?

[macuser_22]

@ldeans2 - Yes, you should wait because when the IRS matches your SSN on the tax return with the W-2 information on your tax return, they will not find a matching W-2 filed by your employer which will put a hold on processing your tax return.   Also any tax withholding and Social Security tax might have been paid to the wrong SSN and will not be credited to you.   

You might need to file an extension so you do not need to file until October 15 (but if you have tax due you must still pay by April 17).