Overreporting MA income: Multi-State W2 from same employer

[anon40]

I am an MA resident and worked in 4 states (including MA) last year. I understand MA taxes all income earned within and outside the state. However, my MA income on Turbotax is showing up $11K higher than my gross annual salary (pre-tax). I know TurboTax is summing box 16 (state wages) across all state W2s, and I believe that's causing the error - ie that sum is $11K higher than my gross annual salary (pre-tax).

I thought my box 16 MA was double reporting income earned outside the state as well, but my employer said it only has the wages I earned in MA. I'm confused on how to proceed - should I be adjusting something in TurboTax or is my W2 actually incorrect? I cannot understand how taxable state wages can be more than a gross annual salary. 

If I enter a negative adjustment to MA income, I am unable to E-file with TurboTax - what are my options then? I'm trying to see if I can get a corrected W2 (if that is indeed the error), but if I can't, how should I proceed?

[AmyC]

1. Yes, you should be adjusting. 
2. Yes, the program totals all state wages to be taxed by your resident state. The IRS and states have their copies of the W2. 
3. You need to reduce the MA taxable income in the state portion by the overage for the program to calculate correctly.
4. Once you adjust your state wages in the w2 section, you will not have any issues and can e-file a correct MA return.

[anon40]

Thank you!

1. Could you explain why you believe I should be adjusting? My employer says box 16 in all state W2s are income earned within that state. I think this is incorrect because that total is $11K higher than my gross annual salary (pre-tax), but am not sure.
2. What would I be adjusting the MA income by? Would I just match what MA box 16 has instead of summing all state box 16s?
3. Is this the adjustment page you're referring to? It says "answer Yes below only if your Forms W-2 misreport your Masachussetts wages because multiple states are reporting the same income on your W-2". As stated above, my employer claims that each state's box 16 only contains income earned within the state - so by extension, multiple states are not reporting the same income. 
4. It also says under the Note, "if you answer Yes, you will not be able to file your Massachusetts return electronically. You will have to file a paper return." 

[IsabellaG]

With only one employer and 4 different states, It sure sounds like the amounts in Box 16  of your W-2 are being duplicated if the amounts total up to $11,000 more than your  W-2 box 1 amount. There are  some states that will not exclude  certain Federal items, such as HSA contributions, from your taxable income, but $11,000 seems high. 

Does your  MA box 16 equal your Federal W-2 box 1 amount? If so, then clearly MA taxable income is being reported correctly and should represent all of your income from all the states during the year.   Can you reconcile your W-2 with your paystubs? 

Can you provide more information about what your  W-2 is reporting? Include the states so we can understand your situation.