W2 way higher than last pay stub

[Jighead57]

I just got access to my w2 and upon checking it says I made 47000 and some change. When looking on my last pay stub which was dec 26 2025. It says 39000? That’s almost 10 grand! I don’t have any benefits through my employer. Heck I didn’t even get a Christmas bonus this year!

[Opus 17]

We can't help you.  You have to talk to your employer.   Your employer would issue a corrected W-2 (W-2c) and you would use that to file.

If you can't resolve it, there is a way to file with different numbers, but if your tax return does not match your W-2, your refund will be delayed and there will be an investigation.  As part of the that investigation you would be expected to show complete documentation of your problem, including correspondence with your employer where they refuse to fix it.  You would also want al your pay stubs and your bank records showing that you can match every pay stub to a deposit and there are no hidden deposits or checks cashed on the side.  

You absolutely should not file a return until your employer corrects the W-2, or until you have taken every possible step to get a correction and have a refusal in writing, no matter how long that takes. 

[SteamTrain]

ANNND...when looking at pay stub, make sure your $$ estimation is the Gross that includes all your SS, Medicare and Fed&State tax withholding.

The W-2 number in box 1 should be the gross before any of those taxes are removed.  (Assuming there are no before-tax deductions/contributions)

[Mike9241]

as sometimes said. You may have hit the nail on the head. if $39 is net, withheld taxes could easily be 20% making the gross $47.