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Level 4
posted Jan 23, 2020 2:10:41 PM

W2 - box 1 amount

On my W2, the box 1 number is somewhat higher than my total earnings shown on my last pay slip of the year. I am accounting for all full year pretax deductions reported on the same pay slip in trying to make the comparison.  Why might that be?

0 2 798
2 Replies
Level 15
Jan 23, 2020 2:16:13 PM

Pay stubs and W-2's seldom match.  That is why we tell people not to use pay stubs to prepare tax returns.  If there is something specific about your pay stub and W-2 that you do not understand you should talk to your employer.

Level 4
Jan 29, 2020 7:05:21 PM

Thank you for your answer!  I understood there could be difference but was interested in typical reasons for the difference.  For others, who might be interested,  I realized in mine that the difference could be explained by Group Term Life, which is a taxable benefit for me.  This was also reported on my pay slip, just not where my earnings are, but it is included in box 1 of my W2.