Do I have to file both of my W-2s? I have 2 W-2s from separate employers. My refund drastically reduces when I enter both in, can I file just one and get a higher return?

[evan-reed1100]

I'm assuming my refund goes down when I enter both in because my income passes an earnings bracket. Both W-2s indicate I will get a refund so I don't owe anything. Will anything happen if I only file one of them?

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

You cannot pick and choose what part of your income you want to enter.  Every W-2 that you received must be reported on your tax return, even if they are for small amounts.  Remember that each one of those W-2’s has your Social Security number on it, and that income was reported to the IRS by the employer.  You do not want to get in trouble with the IRS for under-reporting your income.

ALL of your W-2’s must be entered on the SAME tax return.  After you enter the first one, you click Add Another W-2.

When you added more income, your tax liability increased, so you saw your refund decrease.  The program begins by giving you your personal exemption of $4050 plus your standard deduction—both of which lowered your taxable income. So you are not being taxed on as much of the income on that first W-2.  Then you added taxable income--so the refund went down. Your refund (or tax due) is based on the total of your income, not “per W-2.”  Wait until you have entered ALL of your income and deduction information.  You can't really tell anything until it is all entered.  That “refund monitor” does not mean anything until everything has been entered.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2273878-why-did-my-refund-drop-when-i-entered-another-w-2

[dwightbey14]

Now that I filed the two different W2s from different employers, will the IRS send me a letter to explain my error(s)?

[dwightbey14]

I should further explain, I filed the two different W2s from two employers separately, will the IRS send me a letter of explaining my error(s)?

[xmasbaby0]

You were supposed to put ALL of your W-2's on the SAME tax return.  You do not file them as separate tax returns.  You can only file one tax return per taxpayer, so whatever you did with the second one could not have gone through.  You need to wait for your tax refund (from the first and only acceptable tax return) to arrive and then you can amend your tax return to include the other W-2.  Going forward, never file a tax return unless you have included ALL of your income on that tax return.

[xmasbaby0]

@dwightbey14 See below:

[xmasbaby0]

The only way to file an amended tax return is to prepare a 1040X and print, sign. and mail it.  If you did something else, like try to e-file a change, the changes were NOT TRANSMITTED.

You can amend a tax return after it has been fully processed and you have received your refund.  You must work from your return exactly as it was when you first filed it. If you changed anything, change it back to the way it was when you originally filed it, before you follow the steps to amend. Follow the TT instructions to amend a tax return:

Amend 2017

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894381-how-to-amend-change-or-correct-a-return-you-already-filed?... 

Wait about 3 weeks and you can check the status of your amended return:

https://www.irs.gov/Filing/Individuals/Amended-Returns-(Form-1040-X)/Wheres-My-Amended-Return-1

It will take about 3-4 months for the IRS to process an amended return. 

https://www.irs.gov/filing/individuals/amended-returns-form-1040-x/amended-return-frequently-asked-q...

[Teahh97]

I filed and I forgot to add another w2 to my taxes but it want let me what do I do 

[xmasbaby0]

Did you click that big orange button that said “Transmit my return now?”  If you did that, you cannot do anything to fix it yet.  The IRS will begin to accept/reject 2020 returns on Friday, February 12, 2021.  You have to wait for the email that tells you if your return was accepted or rejected.  If you do not see an email, check your spam folder.

You cannot change or add anything on the return that you just e-filed, nor can you stop it.  It is too late, just like when you put an envelope in a US mailbox on the corner.

If you left out a W-2, a 1099G, or a dependent, or a 1099 etc…DO NOT change your return while it is “pending.”  The changes will go nowhere.

Now you have to wait until the IRS either rejects or accepts your return.  If your return is rejected, you will be able to go into your account and make the necessary changes to your tax return and re-submit your return. 

 If the IRS accepts your return, however, then you have to wait longer until it has been fully processed and you have received your refund.  THEN you can prepare an amended tax return and mail it in. You have to be able to work from that return exactly the way it was when it was e-filed originally.  You will need to use a form called a 1040X. return.  

  Meanwhile, DO NOT go in and start changing anything on your return in the system, or you will make a mess for yourself.  Sit tight and wait until you see what the IRS does with the return you just e-filed