The lack of data showing in Box 15 of your W-2 really shouldn't pose a problem; or at least not one that will
prevent you from accurately filing your tax return. Please allow me to explain that.
The only truly meaningful elements on a W-2 for income tax filing
purposes are your employer's federal EIN (Employer's ID number),
your own Social Security Number (SSN), and your actual wage data. If
there was a mistake made with any of these items, then that would
definitely be something that requires attention.
However, with
respect to the Box 15 state issue, it won't really matter
what you
input in Box 15 Employer ID, as long as the software will accept it
(explained below). Just make sure that the state where you actually worked (i.e., in which you earned the wage income) is correctly
selected from the Box 15 drop-down menu. You may need to do this manually, if the two-letter state value has not already been
pre-populated by the TurboTax program (for example, "AZ" for Arizona; "NY" for New York, etc.).
Then,
simply try leaving the Box 15 number space next to it entirely blank at
first. If there is any issue with Box 15 that prevents
e-filing your return with a blank Box 15,
and it absolutely requires some value in the software, then either try
using your
Federal EIN again here, or enter a "nonsense" value such as 12345 67890
(with a
space in the middle, or not).
If the TurboTax program asks you for
a
state ID number in a specific format, such as needing exactly 9-digits
and ending in XYZ, for instance, then enter a just enter a value that
conforms to that format . . .
such as 123456XYZ. This will enable you to bypass the issue and file
your return. In other words, try to be a little creative here, and just give
the software some value (even gibberish) that it will accept.
In
fact, the IRS computers and your state department of revenue really
won't care, as, they're really just looking for the federal EIN, SSN, and
relevant wage data. The State ID is simply a bureaucratic convention
for your state; the state can and will still be able to easily and
uniquely identify your employer by their federal EIN, even if they have
to cross-reference the Federal / State ID numbers in their database. In
other words, this single issue should not affect the processing of your
tax return, as long as you can satisfy the software with some acceptable input (or none at all).
Once
again, your state should still be able to understand and process your
tax return. As a very last resort, if nothing else works, you attempt
to e-file and your state return is still rejected, then you can always
ask your employer payroll office or human resources department for the
actual number, during the work week. If your employer has employees in your state (they must,
because they employ you), then they will have a state tax ID number
somewhere in their files, even if it's not printed on your W-2.
Thank you for asking this important question.
