My employer printed my nickname on my W2 rather than my legal name. Will this cause tax issues?

[azzarinne]

My legal name is Patricia, but I go by Patty.  My W2 says Patty.  Will this cause problems with the IRS or raise my chances of being audited?

[DoninGA]

The name on your tax return and the name on a W-2 do not have to match, only the Social Security numbers must match.

[TomD8]

And the name & SSN on your tax return must match your name and SSN as currently on file with Social Security.

[txmom24kt]

Youre wrong. We were told by fed govt office  The name on the social security and your w2 MUST MATCH. If not it will trigger an audit and fraud alert. We were audited last year after filing an ez form and had to go to fed tax office to show proof our daughter katie was katherine (her legal name). Bunch of teens run the pool where she lifeguarded and could care less to get her paper work correct despite asking numerous times.

[txmom24kt]

@DoninGA