topic box 5 ( medicare wages and tips) is greater than state wages and tips , box 16 (PA) by 5$ only. Do I have to submit my W2 and additional statement with my PA return? in State tax filing

box 5 ( medicare wages and tips) is greater than state wages and tips , box 16 (PA) by 5$ only. Do I have to submit my W2 and additional statement with my PA return?

sabyasachi2321 — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:12:12 GMT

The box 5 amount is only 5$ more than the box 16 amount. I don't participate in 401K. Turbotax is asking me to include a W2 copy and an additional statement with my return. I'm not sure what to put in this additional statement. Is this really needed?

Re: box 5 ( medicare wages and tips) is greater than state wages and tips , box 16 (PA) by 5$ onl...

ThomasM125 — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 21:44:09 GMT

That is probably an error on your W-2. You could try entering the box 5 amount in your box 16 entry since that will be overstating your state income by a nominal amount. So, you won't be cheating anyone and that may save you a lot of trouble.

Re: box 5 ( medicare wages and tips) is greater than state wages and tips , box 16 (PA) by 5$ only. Do I have to submit my W2 and additional statement with my PA return?

mtr4 — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 19:11:02 GMT

Since using Turbotax 10+ years our medicare wages have always been higher than our state (PA) wages. In our case our Medicare wages are equal to gross wages less medical/dental/vision insurance and our state wages are equal to gross wages less medical/dental/vision insurance AND less group life insurance. I'm not sure why Turbotax is asking this question and if it is new question for 2023 or if I have been inadvertently answering it incorrectly. I am get the same response as you, but have never submitted our W-2s to PA. So not sure if I should answer none of the above or complete the statement indicating why they are different. It is a bit confusing and I'm unsure of what to do.

Re: box 5 ( medicare wages and tips) is greater than state wages and tips , box 16 (PA) by 5$ onl...

RobertB4444 — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:31:20 GMT

@ThomasM125 has good advice above. If the difference is only a few dollars just enter the box 3 amount into box 16 and be done with it.

@mtr4

Re: box 5 ( medicare wages and tips) is greater than state wages and tips , box 16 (PA) by 5$ onl...

pyk — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 05:29:21 GMT

But what if the difference is not just a few dollars?

I am having the same issue and the difference between "Box 5 Medicare wages and tips" and "Box 16 State wages, tips" is 486 dollars. This is the exact amount of "Box 12b - Code C", which is group life insurance.

I have been using Turbotax for many years living in PA with the same job and this difference with Box 5 being greater than Box 16 due to the group life insurance has always been the case and I have never had to answer this question or send in a statement or send in my W2 before.

Has something changed? Any guidance would be appreciated.

Re: box 5 ( medicare wages and tips) is greater than state wages and tips , box 16 (PA) by 5$ onl...

DianeW777 — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 13:02:19 GMT

No, there has not been a change in the taxable compensation for Pennsylvania (PA). There is no need to send in your W-2 unless it is requested by PA Department of Revenue later. As you are already aware, this is uncommon. The wage tax summary W2–S will be their record.

See Income Items Never Taxable As PA Compensation (Ctrl + F to search the page for group term life)

@pyk

Re: box 5 ( medicare wages and tips) is greater than state wages and tips , box 16 (PA) by 5$ onl...

Hal_Al — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 13:42:47 GMT

Maybe the W-2 is correct. PA does not tax "Premiums paid by an employer for group term life insurance (no limit)".

Reference: https://www.revenue.pa.gov/FormsandPublications/PAPersonalIncomeTaxGuide/Pages/Gross-Compensation.aspx

Re: box 5 ( medicare wages and tips) is greater than state wages and tips , box 16 (PA) by 5$ onl...

pyk — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 15:14:37 GMT

Thank you. I guess it's still a bit strange to me that this is the first time I ever remember this question being asked and that once you click that this is your situation, it says that you must type out a document explaining the discrepancy and additionally send in a W2. I have never been asked to do any of this despite this being my circumstance for many years.

Re: box 5 ( medicare wages and tips) is greater than state wages and tips , box 16 (PA) by 5$ onl...

gjfriborg — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 01:49:48 GMT

We have the exact same situation. Last year was the first time I remember being asked this question on our PA state tax return. Our box 16 is also lower than our box 5 by a similar amount. It seems that based on the tax expert answers, it is a non-issue?

@pyk

Re: box 5 ( medicare wages and tips) is greater than state wages and tips , box 16 (PA) by 5$ onl...

ThomasM125 — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:45:34 GMT

It will likely not affect the processing of your return if you do not send the copy of your W-2 form. If it is requested later you can send a copy at that time.

@gjfriborg