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New Member
posted Jun 3, 2019 12:05:26 PM

How do i enter a W-2 from the IHSS when box 1 shows 0? I have read how to input the W-2 if there is an amount on box 1 but in this case there's only an amount on 3-6.

There is nothing on box 1, 2, nothing from 7-13 and 15-18. I have read that this type of income is exempted, but do you still have to file it?

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1 Best answer
Alumni
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:48 PM

solved in comments

24 Replies
Alumni
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:28 PM

If box 1 is zero, you don't include that W2 on your tax return.

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:29 PM

At all? Interesting.

Alumni
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:30 PM

Not at all, box 1 is taxable income, if box1 is zero, you dont need to enter it.

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:31 PM

thank you!

Alumni
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:33 PM

Youre welcome!

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:35 PM

i have the same issue! what I have the Box 4 and Box 6 have tax withheld!!! if i didn't file this w-2 am i going to lose the tax withheld benefits?

Alumni
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:36 PM

Its got federal tax withholding in Box 2?  Boxes 4 and 6 are not refundable, only $$ in Box 2 is potentially refundable.

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:37 PM

Question is if Box 1 is blank, you can't claim income tax credit for wages earned as shown in Box 3 and 5?

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:39 PM

Problem is IHSS will not or does not want to correct W2 Box 1. They say shouldn't matter since you don't pay tax but can't claim the tax credit we are entitled to, unless we use Box 3 or 5 of wages earned?

Alumni
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:40 PM

If box 1 is blank, the W2 doesn't get entered...you don't get any EIC on income that isn't taxable.

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:42 PM

I also asked IHSS to issue an amended W-2 because I am losing out on the rather large EIC I usually receive. Has anyone had any luck with getting them to put the IHSS earnings back in box 1?

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:43 PM

No IHSS will not budge, they don't care that its hurting home care workers who can't claim EIC any longer. Last year box 1 taxable income was dropped dramatically, this year=nothing! If you get them to change their mind, let us know.

Alumni
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:46 PM

you have non taxable income , instead of free money being handed to you.....you get a tax break and the government doesn't pay out any extras.

New Member
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:47 PM

I'm sorry, "free money being handed to you"? IHSS is WORK. We work for every hour of IHSS we are paid for. We just happen to be caring for a family member. Many of us are low income because we are full-time caregivers and cannot work outside the home, which is why we qualify for EIC. It's not "free money being handed to us." Please inform yourself before you make insensitive comments.

Alumni
Jun 3, 2019 12:05:48 PM

solved in comments

New Member
Sep 24, 2019 12:38:02 PM

Thanks Lisa995! So are you saying we don't need to enter it for Federal taxes but we do for State? What about the other boxes on the W2? My W2 shows zero for Box 1 but the boxes are not zero for state income and state income tax. So does that mean I don't need to enter it when filing my Federal taxes but I do have to enter it when filing my State taxes? Thanks!

Alumni
Sep 24, 2019 12:43:06 PM

If your state is CA, then you don't need to include any income for the state either.  CA also excludes IHSS income, I'm not familiar with other state requirements.

New Member
Sep 5, 2020 5:20:37 PM

I have 0 in box 1 but box 3-6 are populated; so if I dont report the w-2 income how do I make sure I get the credit for soc security taxes and medicare taxes paid

thanks for the help.

Level 15
Sep 5, 2020 5:37:57 PM

@mspassi 

 

The credit for SS & Medicare are  not filed on an income tax return ... a copy of the W-2 with this info is sent to the SS administration  and that is how the info is registered. 

Level 5
Jun 11, 2021 12:21:08 PM

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/certain-medicaid-waiver-payments-may-be-excludable-from-income

This article says in Q9 that they can include their income in BOX 1 and then take the EIC  (Earned Income Credit)

Level 15
Jun 11, 2021 12:53:32 PM

That Q-9 answer doesn't allow you to just choose  to  make a W-2  box 1 entry to get the EIC  just because you want the credit and you cannot  add it to the EIC calculations without it being on the Wages line ... you cannot have the income excluded AND get the EIC.  

Level 5
Jun 11, 2021 1:16:48 PM

A9. Yes, for open tax years, you may choose to include all, but not part, of these payments in earned income for determining the EIC or the ACTC, if these payments are otherwise earned income (wages or income from self-employment).

I did find with my customer that their income was over the $15980 (2021) for EIC so it made their taxes higher and they did not qualify for EIC.  

Level 2
Dec 13, 2021 9:42:17 PM

@Katherine S 63 So I’m in same situation. I am a provider for my brother whom lives with me. My w2 shows 0 for Box 1 but boxes 3-6 are filled in. I want to get earned income credit. So are you saying I can input my wages from box 3 in box 1?

Level 2
Dec 13, 2021 9:44:51 PM

@the8qualities Did you end figuring out if you can claim wages for earned income credit even though box 1 shows 0?