topic Re: Box 16 differs from Box 1 in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Box 16 differs from Box 1

ResidentReturn — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:06:24 GMT

I am a resident of Idaho. I work in Washington State. There is no state income tax in Washington. My employer withholds a percentage to cover Idaho State taxes from my pay. I received my W2, and the Idaho wages in box 16 do not match my federal wages in box 1. It matches my SS and Medicare wages in boxes 3 and 5. I think this is an error in reporting by my employer. According to instructions I find on the Idaho Tax website and state controller website. My wages for box 16 should match box 1, not another amount since I lived in Idaho full time. Here is an excerpt from the State Controller: (Emphasis mine)

Tax Status: A deduction is listed as one of the following three Tax Status’.

Pre-FICA – The deduction is subtracted before calculating the employee’s FICA, Federal Tax, State Tax and Unemployment amounts. It is not included in any taxable gross and is not included in any wages reported on the W-2.
Pre-Tax – The deduction is subtracted before calculating the employee’s Federal and State Tax amounts. It is not included in the Federal and State Taxable Grosses. This deduction is included in the Social Security and Medicare Wages on the W-2, but not the Federal and State Wages.
Blank – If the field is blank for a deduction, the deduction is included in all taxable grosses and all wages on the W-2.

Also on the Idaho State Tax Commission website page with instructions for filling out the W2, it clearly states that box 16 should match box 1.

Re: Box 16 differs from Box 1

maglib — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 04:48:14 GMT

@ResidentReturn regardless of what your w-2 has in box 16, your state return will start with Federal adjusted gross income. You allocate from there. you will be fine in continuing your return.

Line 7 Federal Adjusted Gross Income
Enter your federal adjusted gross income from
Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 11.

Re: Box 16 differs from Box 1

ResidentReturn — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 04:53:25 GMT

Thanks for the info. That makes sense. I was forgetting what the actual form looks like if filled out manually. I was only focusing on what I fill in and what shows in the web portal. When I fill in the boxes on TT, should I put in the correct amount, or what is showing on the W2? Thanks again!

Re: Box 16 differs from Box 1

maglib — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 04:55:57 GMT

Enter the w-2 as you received it. The tax return will process correctly. It is a resident return so it will tax all income in box 1.

Re: Box 16 differs from Box 1

ResidentReturn — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 04:59:15 GMT

Thanks - you have been very helpful!