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New Member
posted May 31, 2019 4:48:17 PM

Multiple w-2 for different states

Hello,

I am aware of the helpful information regarding multiple w-2 from the same employer for different states, but I wanted to make sure I'm following it correctly.

My first W-2 contains the federal data, and it has boxes 15 (+ Emplyer ID #), 16, and 17 filled. My second one states on box 14 that FED info is on the first W-2 (I didn't add this comment on my online W-2, since it's not associated with any required codes, just the comment). This second W-2 is mostly blank, except for boxes 15 (+Employer ID#), 18, 19, and 20.

Based on the information listed on your help site, I've included both W-2 forms' information into a sole W-2 in TurboTax for this employer (adding a line for the overlapping box 15).

Is this right? Thank you!

0 24 30868
1 Best answer
New Member
May 31, 2019 4:48:19 PM

Yes, perfect job!

As you already figured out, if you work in more than 1 state, sometimes they will give you another W2 with the extra state information on it and the top part the same or not filled in. If this is the case, list one W-2 but include both state taxes on it. It will let you type in more that one line for boxes 15-20.


24 Replies
New Member
May 31, 2019 4:48:19 PM

Yes, perfect job!

As you already figured out, if you work in more than 1 state, sometimes they will give you another W2 with the extra state information on it and the top part the same or not filled in. If this is the case, list one W-2 but include both state taxes on it. It will let you type in more that one line for boxes 15-20.


New Member
May 31, 2019 4:48:21 PM

Thank you!

New Member
Jan 20, 2020 12:35:31 PM

I filed online for both states but only seeing one state listed, is that because Washington don't have state tax? But looking under federal, it's not showing either. What did I do wrong?

 

 

Employee Tax Expert
Jan 20, 2020 1:51:01 PM

You are correct, Washington does not impose any income taxes so you will not have any Washington state income taxes to prepare in TurboTax.  

 

On the Federal side, please confirm your W-2 Wage information is input into the program as follows:

  1. Click on the Federal Tab
  2. Select "Wages & Income"
  3. Select "Job (W-2)"
  4. Confirm that all of your W-2 information is entered as prompted by the program (you should see the employer information and then the income, withholding, taxes as you continue to enter your information)

Once you have confirmed all of that information is entered, click on the left black panel.

  1. Select "Tax Tools"
  2. Select "Tools"
  3. A popup window will be displayed.  When you see this screen, select "View Tax Summary"

You will then see a "Review Tax Summary" screen.  You should see a line which says "Total Income" which will include your wages already input.  Once you have confirmed, go ahead and click "Back" in the left panel to get back to the input screens.

 

Please be aware the filing season with the IRS begins on January 27th, 2020 so no returns can be electronically filed prior to this date.

 

 

New Member
Feb 13, 2020 5:53:11 AM

What if you only worked in your state (UT)and the company is headquartered in another state (MD) and your w2 has both states in boxes 15,16,17? My HR says I have to reach out to co who prepared it and that company won’t get back to me. 

Expert Alumni
Feb 13, 2020 11:48:05 AM

You should should be paying state income tax for UT only. Your employer is required to provide you with correct W-2 form.

If the employer does not send you a corrected W-2 on time, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. The IRS will contact your employer to resolve the problem, such as requesting a corrected W-2 form to be sent to you.

If you don't receive the corrected W-2 form on time to file your taxes, you can use Form 4852 as a substitute. You can download the form from the IRS website.

Not applicable
Feb 23, 2020 8:13:04 AM

I also have a W-2 with two states listed which I have entered for the W-2 income however on my state return, it is showing the income listed in box #16 for both which is then doubling the income I actually made.  How do I correct this so it does not double count the income?

Expert Alumni
Feb 23, 2020 12:47:01 PM

Which two states are we talking about and is one of the states NY? in some the state returns, you would need to allocate income and you would need to go through the income allocation screens. Depending on the state, some will allocate automatically.  Let me know the states and income items reported on the W2.

Expert Alumni
Feb 24, 2020 1:56:25 PM

Try the steps below. When you have both resident and non-resident income, you must fill out the tax forms in a special order.

Your resident state taxes all income but gives a credit for income taxed by another state.  Please carefully follow these directions.

You may need to delete both states and begin again.

 

  1. First, prepare your non-resident  return. This creates your tax liability for the non-resident state.
  2. THEN prepare your resident state return and it will generate a credit for your income already being taxed in the non-resident state.
  3. The credit will be the lower of the state tax liabilities on the same income. You may owe your resident state.

It isn't possible for the program to create a credit before it knows the liability. Your returns may be wrong if you do not prepare the states in this order.

 

If that does not work, enter zero for your resident state wages.

@DaveF1006

 

 

Level 1
Feb 28, 2020 8:20:54 PM

@DaveF1006 
I am having the same issue as flattop.
I have one W-2 and 2 states, CA and NY. But same value in box 16 for those 2 states on W2, which is also the value for box 1.

However, when turbotax populate CA form 540, line 12, it seems add up values of box 16 from 2 states, ending up with a double income number there. How could I fix that?

I posted my question here too: https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/same-w-2-2-states-ca-ny-turbotax-filled-ca-form-540-wrong-at-line-12/01/1250216

Expert Alumni
Mar 1, 2020 8:48:39 AM

Did you live in CA and NY in 2019?

If you are filing CA Part-year resident return, TurboTax will ask you "Did you earn all your Income in california?" Answer No to the that question then enter the amount earned in CA.

Level 1
Mar 1, 2020 9:04:49 AM

@MayaD 
Thank you for your response!

I was always a CA residents for 2019, but was in NY for work for 15 days (and my company withheld state tax in NY for those 15 days). What should I do in this case?

Expert Alumni
Mar 1, 2020 9:30:48 AM

If you were CA resident in 2019, CA will tax you on all your income. However, since some of your income is being taxes in CA and NY, you can claim on CA return credit for taxes paid to another state. 

 

Level 1
Mar 1, 2020 9:33:50 AM

@MayaD  Yes, that’s the plan. Claiming credit from CA tax of the tax I paid to NY.

but in form 540 (CA tax), line 12, turbo tax added w-2 box 16 value from both states together, ending up with a 2x my wages value in line 12. 

I don’t know how to fix this.

Expert Alumni
Mar 1, 2020 9:49:38 AM

540 line 12 reports the state wages from box 16 of your W2 but you are not being taxed on that income. Check form 540 line 17 this is CA adjusted gross income. 

 CA taxable income is reported on line 19. 

Level 1
Mar 1, 2020 9:52:02 AM

@MayaD @Thank you for prompt response!

 

I realized that line 12 doesn’t affect the final tax calculation...but should I just leave it as it is? The number there, which is 2x my wages, doesn’t seem correct to me. Any way I can manually fix this?

 

Thank you!

Expert Alumni
Mar 1, 2020 10:06:12 AM

You can't adjust that number manually, line 12 is carrying over the information from your W-2 and you need to report your W-2 the way it is. Like you said  the number doesn't not affect your final tax calculation so you can just leave it as is. 

New Member
Mar 28, 2020 12:28:52 PM

I worked in Colorado and Vermont for the same company. On my W2 it says Whole state but no actual state listed. What do I do?

Expert Alumni
Mar 28, 2020 1:00:16 PM

Were state taxes withheld?  On the W2, the amounts in Box 17 are what the company paid to the particular state for the taxes so it not only determines the state taxable wages, but affects your tax due/refund.  If there are NO amounts in the state section, you will want to contact the company and find out why because you may owe state taxes if there were no withholding.  Otherwise, you want to enter the W2 as you see it and make adjustment for state income (based on how much you made in each state) in the state tax section of TurboTax.

@Kgalarpe

Level 1
Jul 14, 2020 7:15:58 PM

I have been doing this wrong for years and this finally helped me out! Thanks!

New Member
May 10, 2021 6:15:02 AM

My situation is similar but worse - I have 2 W-2s from the same employer for two different states but they report federal income in boxes 1 through 14 on both W-2s so TurboTax is doubling my income.  Do I need to get new W2s from my company?  Or can I just report $0.00 for the federal amounts on the 2nd return?

 

Expert Alumni
May 10, 2021 8:37:57 AM

You should only be entering one W-2 with multiple rows in the state section to indicate the two states.  

 

If you are using a CD/downloaded version of TurboTax, then you enter the second row of state information underneath the first one.    

 

If you are using TurboTax Online, click the blue + Add another state underneath the state information until you have entered all the rows you need.

 

@trbTx008

New Member
Apr 17, 2022 5:32:25 PM

i have two w2s from different states same company. all money made in ny. w2 one has all the nj and fed info and  the second w2 for ny has info in box16 and some ny tax stuff in box14. so i took line 16 of first w2 for nj and taxes paid box 17. w2 number 2 for ny has no boxes filled in except 15 (slightly different state id number one number is added ) and box 16 ny wages, these are different (lower) than the nj numbers so i added the second w2 numbers under an additional w2?

Expert Alumni
Apr 18, 2022 11:26:48 PM

Nope, all of the information is mashed together to create one w2. You can have multiple states in the state and local information section as AnnetteB states above.

@00jillian00