Can you get past local tax portion if there is an amount in box 19 but nothing in local wages box 18?

[VolvoGirl]

If box 18 is blank then enter the amount from box 16.

[Hal_Al]

If it's an Ohio city, enter the amount from box 5 of your W-2 in box 18.  Ideally, you get a corrected W-2 from your employer, showing the correct amount in box 18 (which is usually the box 5 amount, because OH cities do not allow a deduction for 401k contributions).

If you work in an OH city with an income tax, but do not live in an OH city with a income tax, it does not matter what's in box 18, as long as it's not  less than box 19.