Stuck in A Loop with Fix Federal Return Issue - Empty Box 1 in the Second W-2

[justinliu412]

Hi,

I am stuck in a loop at reviewing my return documents. If I click "Continue", the reviewing will be run again and take me back to the same step. I do have a W-2 form with empty box 1 (Wages, tips, other compensation), but the box 16 (State wages, tips, etc.) has non-zero values. This is one of the two W-2 forms I have.

I am fine with mailing the return documents (instead of e-filing). What should I proceed at this point?

Thanks!

[Karis_F]

Try clearing cache and deleting cookies, then log back into TurboTax. You can also try opening TurboTax in another browser.

That is correct that you will not be able to e-file your tax return due to a zero in box 1 of your W-2, but Continue on the review screen should direct you to paper file your return.

Here is a TurboTax article on how to file your return by mail.

[justinliu412]

Thank you for answering my question! During a phone call with "product expert" of Turbotax yesterday, I was instructed to put $1 in the box 1 of my second W-2. Was that a legit operation? If not, I will revert that to $0 and try your solution again. Thanks!

[RogerD1 · Accepted solution]

Are you sure that you have 2 W-2 forms and not 1 W-2 with two pages?  Sometimes if you have multiple states, or multiple local taxes reported on the W-2, it may be necessary to use more than 1 page.  If you only had one employer in 2025, then you should only have one W-2 and only one W-2 entered in TurboTax.  If there are two pages for one W-2, all the information should be entered in one W-2 entry in TurboTax.

If you truly had a 2nd W-2 that only had state income (which would be unusual), then the advice to enter a figure of $1 in box 1 would be the correct advice in this case.

[justinliu412]

Hi Roger,

Thank you for your reply. The two W-2s came from two employers. The one with empty box 1 was from my employer of 2024. They paid me the salary of Dec 2024 in Jan 2025 -- I assume that's why I have a W-2 from them. After filling $1 in the box 1 of that W-2, Turbotax allowed me to e-file my tax return.

Thanks,

Junze