Work in PA, live in MD - local Baltimore taxes not on W-2

[ironman0723]

My wife and I moved from PA to MD (Baltimore) in the middle of last year (6/15/24). We worked for a company based in PA for the entire year, it's just that out residence changed to MD halfway through. I've been going through my various W-2 sections, and on the Maryland section, there is nothing listed under Box 19 for Local income tax.

However, when I look at my paystubs for when I have been a Maryland resident, I can clearly see money taken out for Maryland state (Box 17 - which does have a number on my W-2), and I can see amounts taken out for Baltimore (which I assume is supposed to reflect in Box 19).

Are the taxes that went to Baltimore supposed to show up in Box 19, and if they are not present, does this mean my employer screwed up on my W-2? Or does this reflect elsewhere?

[MaryK4]

Yes, the Baltimore local taxes should be on your W-2 for Boxes 18-19-20.  If they are on your paystubs, your employer most likely missed reporting them on your W2- there really is no other place they would be reported.  You should contact your employer to clarify that the local taxes were paid and get a corrected W2 so that you can get credit for the payment. 

[ironman0723]

Hi @MaryK4 , thank you for this info, just want to clarify here. I went back to my employer and asked them about this, and they stated that these taxes are reflected in the box for Maryland taxes. For me - there is a number in Box 16 (State wages, tips etc), and a number in Box 17 (State income tax). The boxes that do not have anything entered for Maryland is in Box 18 (Local wages, tips, etc), Box 19 (Local income tax), and Box 20 (Locality name).

I lived in Maryland for the second half of the year, but my "primary" work place is not Maryland.

I looked at my last paystub in December of 2024 at the Year to Date number for the Maryland + Baltimore taxes. I added these two YTD numbers, and they do match the number shown in Box 17 for me for Maryland. But nothing listed in 18,19,20.

Since the numbers do add up (Box 17 and the YTD numbers for Maryland + Baltimore taxes from my paystub), I assume that everything is captured correctly. If I lived (but didn't work in) Maryland, does it matter for my tax purposes whether the amounts are in Box 17, or Box 18-19-20? Are they supposed to be in Box 17, or 18-19-20? I don't think this is an issue but please let me know if it would be.

[MaryK4 · Accepted solution]

Sorry for the confusion- since Maryland collects the city taxes, they are included in Box 17and not in 18-19-20.  @ironman0723