W-2 Box 17 >> Box 1

[dekleer]

I received a W-2 from an ex-employer which makes no sense, but their hr insists its correct after multiple exchanges with them.  Box 1 is 6222.20, Box 4 is 9932.40, Box17 is 38601.59.  Turbotax happily imports this from ADP so it must be ok?  Turbotax reports I get a massive refund from the state.  hr does not want to communicate with me anymore.  They act like I am idiot.  What could I be missing?  What do I do?  I would think its a mathematical fact that Box 1 > Box 4 and Box 1 > Box 17 always. And Box 2 is 832.47 and Box 6 901.64 which seems ok??

[KrisD15]

To clarify

do you think you paid over $38,000 in state taxes? 

Does not seem right to me. 

Is there a back story to this? Did you have to repay anything to the employer? 

[VolvoGirl]

9,932.40 is the max for box 4.  How much is in box 3?  For 2023 the max for Social Security is $9,932.40 on $160,200 of wages (160,200 x 6.2%).  And how much is box 5?  Box 6 is box 5 x 1.45%.  

Is anything listed in box 12, especially with code D?  But box 1 does seem very very low.  

[Mike9241]

what's in box 16? it's almost impossible for box 17 to be greater than box 16. however, box 16 and box 1 do not have to agree. $38K seems wrong. 

if you imported something may have gone wrong. in this case you need to look at the actual w-2. 

also if you kept your pay stubs you can add up the state w/h on them

this can also present a federal issue if wrong. schedule A taxes are limited to $10K but if that $10K allows you to itemize when ithe correct amount would produce a lower deduction or not enable you to itemize, then in the future should the employer correct the W-2 you have to file an amended federal return and then possibly owe taxes penalties and interest. 

I would also say not to file until this issue is resolved.

if this was federal w/h, you would be instructed to contact the iRS

I don't know if the state would do anything but it wouldn't hurt to contact the state department of revenue to see what they suggest or will do?  

[dekleer]

Box 3 and 5  are 62181.69. Box 12 is completely empty.

[dekleer]

Box 16 is same as Box 1: 6222.20.  The import and the paper copy are the same.  The paystub is not very helpful as it has the same data as my W-2.  On the pay stub they have "Offset net pay" of 45,568.75 which is the only way they  can make the numbers total up, otherwise there would have had a huge negative check!?  But that 45, 568.75 appears no where on my W-2.  So yes my pay stub matches all the boxes on the W-2 to the penny.

[VolvoGirl]

Then your W2 is messed up.  If box 3 is 62,181.69 then box 4 has to be 3,855.26.  Box 6 is right.  But box 5 should be the same as box 1.    

[KrisD15]

To clarify, what was the "offset" of 45,568.75?

I would think you would know if you earned 62,000 or 6,200. 

If the Employer offset your income, that income would still be included in Box 1 on your W-2 unless it was income that you had to pay back to the employer the same year it was to be reported as earned. 

@dekleer