topic W2 Box 5 has a negative amount in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

W2 Box 5 has a negative amount

InLearning1 — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:31:50 GMT

Hi all,

My W2 Box 5 (Social Security Withheld) has a negative amount. However, the TurboTax Deluxe does not let me enter a negative amount. The system shown a message that the lowest amount can be entered is 0.

What should I do?

Thanks in advance for any response and help!

Re: W2 Box 5 has a negative amount

LindaS5247 — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 21:39:43 GMT

Please clarify your question by adding some additional information so we can provide a more helpful answer. Did you make a repayment of your social security benefits? Was this amount in Box 5 included in your income in a prior year? Is the amount in excess of $3,000?

Please feel free to come back to TurboTax Community with additional information or questions or click here for help in contacting Turbo Tax Support.

Re: W2 Box 5 has a negative amount

VolvoGirl — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 21:43:21 GMT

W2 box 5 is for Medicare wages. SS tax is in box 4. Or is it on another form like a SSA-1099?

Re: W2 Box 5 has a negative amount

InLearning1 — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 15:01:41 GMT

Sorry, my typo. The negative amount is under box 4 Social security tax withheld.

Thanks!

Re: W2 Box 5 has a negative amount

JohnB5677 — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 16:15:59 GMT

This is unusual.

Please contact your employer to confirm what that is.
A negative entry occurs if the amount of carryover credit exceeds your tax liability.
- I don't see how that could happen wit Social Security tax withheld..
TurboTax will not take a negative number in that field.

Please contact us again with any additional questions and provide some additional details.

Re: W2 Box 5 has a negative amount

InLearning1 — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:06:19 GMT

Appreciate the response. I called and talked to one of your TurboTax support team. He recommended me to do a paper filing (instead of efiling). Then, attach the Form 834 to seek for approval of the credit. He believes it's an overpayment of Social Security Tax Withheld from 2022.

Any additional recommendation will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!