social security

Missing Your Form W-2?

You should receive a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, from each of your employers for use in preparing your federal tax return. Employers must furnish this record of 2012 earnings and withheld taxes no later than January 31, 2013 (if mailed, allow a few days for delivery).

If you do not receive your Form W-2, contact your employer to find out if and when the W-2 was mailed. If it was mailed, it may have been returned to your employer because of an incorrect address. After contacting your employer, allow a reasonable amount of time for your employer to resend or to issue the W-2.

If you still do not receive your W-2 by February 15th, contact the IRS for assistance at 1-800-829-1040. When you call, have the following information handy:

  • the employer’s name and complete address, including zip code, and the employer’s telephone number;
  • the employer’s identification number (if known);
  • your name and address, including zip code, Social Security number, and telephone number; and
  • an estimate of the wages you earned, the federal income tax withheld, and the dates you began and ended employment.

If you misplaced your W-2, contact your employer. Your employer can replace the lost form with a “reissued statement.” Be aware that your employer is allowed to charge you a fee for providing you with a new W-2.

You still must file your tax return on time even if you do not receive your Form W-2. If you cannot get a W-2 by the tax filing deadline, you may use Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement (available on the IRS website), but it will delay any refund due while the information is verified.

If you receive a corrected W-2 after your return is filed and the information it contains does not match the income or withheld tax that you reported on your return, you must file an amended return on Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

If you have questions about your Forms W-2 and 1099 or any other tax-related materials, please call or email our office.

IRS Updates Withholding Guidance for 2013

The Internal Revenue Service has released updated income-tax withholding tables for 2013 and supersede the tables issued on December 31, 2012. The newly revised version contains percentage method income-tax withholding tables and related information that employers need to implement these changes.

In addition, employers should also begin withholding Social Security tax at the rate of 6.2 percent of wages paid following the expiration of the temporary two-percentage-point payroll tax cut in effect for 2011 and 2012. Payroll tax rates were not affected by the legislation signed into law on January 2.

Employers should start using the revised withholding tables and correct the amount of Social Security tax withheld as soon as possible in 2013, but not later than February 15, 2013. For any Social Security tax under-withheld before that date, employers should make the appropriate adjustment in workers’ pay as soon as possible, but not later than March 31, 2013.

Employers and payroll companies will handle the withholding changes, so workers typically won’t need to take any additional action, such as filling out a new W-4 withholding form.

As always, it’s prudent for workers to review their withholding every year and, if necessary, fill out a new W-4 and give it to their employer. For example, individuals and couples with multiple jobs, people who are having children, getting married, getting divorced or buying a home, and those who typically wind up with a balance due or large refund at the end of the year may want to consider submitting revised W-4 forms.

Give us a call if you have any questions about income tax withholding in 2013. We’re here to help.

Tax Due Dates for February 2013

February 11 Employers – Federal unemployment tax. File Form 940 for 2012. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.Employers – Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the fourth quarter of 2012. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and on time.

Small Employers – File Form 944 to report Social Security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2012. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.

Farm Employers – File Form 943 to report Social Security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2012. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.

Certain Small Employers – File Form 944 to report Social Security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2012. This tax due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.

Employers – Nonpayroll taxes. File Form 945 to report income tax withheld for 2012 on all nonpayroll items. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.

Employees – who work for tips. If you received $20 or more in tips during January, report them to your employer. You can use Form 4070.

February 15 Employers – Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in January.Employers – Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in January.

Individuals – If you claimed exemption from income tax withholding last year on the Form W-4 you gave your employer, you must file a new Form W-4 by this date to continue your exemption for another year.

February 16 Employers – Begin withholding income tax from the pay of any employee who claimed exemption from withholding in 2012, but did not give you a new Form W-4 to continue the exemption this year.
February 28 Businesses – File information returns (Form 1099) for certain payments you made during 2012. There are different forms for different types of payments. Use a separate Form 1096 to summarize and transmit the forms for each type of payment. See the 2012 Instructions for Forms 1099, 1098, 5498, and W-2G for information on what payments are covered, how much the payment must be before a return is required, what form to use, and extensions of time to file.If you file Forms 1098, 1099, or W-2G electronically (not by magnetic media), your due date for filing them with the IRS will be extended to April 1. The due date for giving the recipient these forms is still January 31.

Payers of Gambling Winnings – File Form 1096, Annual Summary and transmittal of U.S. Information Returns, along with Copy A of all the Forms W-2G you issued for 2012. If you file Forms W-2G electronically (not by magnetic tape), your due date for filing them with the IRS will be extended to April 1. The due date for giving the recipient these forms remains January 31.

Employers – File Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, along with Copy A of all the Forms W-2 you issued for 2012.

If you file Forms W-2 electronically (not by magnetic media), your due date for filing them with the SSA will be extended to April 1. The due date for giving the recipient these forms is still January 31.

Employers – with employees who work for tips. File Form 8027, Employer’s Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips. Use Form 8027-T, Transmittal of Employer’s Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips, to summarize and transmit Forms 8027 if you have more than one establishment. If you file Forms 8027 electronically (not by magnetic tape), your due date for filing them with the IRS will be extended to April 1.

March 1 Farmers and fishermen – File your 2012 income tax return and pay any tax due. However, you have until April 15 to file if you paid your 2012 estimated tax by January 15, 2013. (See Penalty Relief for Farmers and Fishermen in Tax Tips section above)
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