I recieved a W-2 from a old employer for 2020 with a value only in box 12

[kskelton0505]

My previous employer sent me a W-2 with only codes W and DD in box 12, nothing is recorded in any of the other boxes.  I received my final paycheck from the company in December 2019.  Because the W-2 has no value in box 1 it is preventing me from e-filing.  Do I need to include this W-2 in my taxes for 2020?  The total amount in box 12 is about $625.

[RayW7]

You cannot e-file a W-2 with no box 1 income.

Did the employer send a 2nd W-2 to add information that was missing from the 1st?   If so just add that to the first W-2 and ignore the 2nd. If not you cannot e-file a W-2 with no box 1 income.

If you believe this W2 is in error then contact the employer and ask them to correct it.

Box 12

W is for employer contributions (including amounts the employee elected to contribute using a Section 125 cafeteria plan) to your health savings account (HSA).

DD is for the cost of employer-sponsored health coverage.

I

[kskelton0505]

I did not receive any paychecks from this company in 2020 and was not expecting a W-2 from them this year.  Is it common for companies to send W-2s with only box 12 filled out?

[DawnC · Accepted solution]

No, it is not common.  Code DD amounts are for informational purposes only — they don't affect the numbers in your tax return.   The code W however may affect things on your tax return.  It reflects company contributions (including employee contributions through a cafeteria plan) to your health savings account (HSA).    

For 2020, your maximum combined contribution to an HSA – that is, the sum of what you, your employer, and anyone else contributed – is $3,550 if you're covered by an individual (self-only) HDHP and $7,100 if you're covered by a family HDHP (maximum contributions increase to $4,550 and $8,100, respectively, if you were at least 55 years of age on December 31, 2020).  There are penalties if you have an excess contribution to your HSA unless the excess amount is withdrawn before the due date of your return, including extensions.  

Find out from the employer if they contributed to your HSA account.   If you contributed the maximum through another employer or were not covered by a HDHP in 2020, you will want to get that corrected and the funds removed before April 15th to avoid the associated penalties.   Or they may just need to issue you a CORRECTED W-2.   In any case, you can't e-file a return with a W-2 without wages.  There is a way to enter the code W amount without the W-2 however, see link below.  

• Where do I enter my HSA contribution?