W-2 the easy way
Enter the numbers from your W-2 and we'll tell you exactly what each box means — in plain English, in under 2 minutes.
W-2 Made Easy →W-2 Box Decoder
Tap any box on your W-2 to see exactly what it means in plain English. Every box from 1 to 20, plus the lettered boxes a through f. Open the full decoder page.
Box 1 — Wages, tips, other compensation
Your total federal taxable wages for the year. It is usually lower than your gross pay because pre-tax items like 401(k) contributions and health premiums are subtracted. This figure flows to Form 1040, line 1a.
Box 2 — Federal income tax withheld
The total federal income tax your employer already sent to the IRS from your paychecks. You compare it against your actual tax to see whether you get a refund or owe.
Box 3 — Social Security wages
The portion of your pay subject to Social Security tax. It is capped each year at the Social Security wage base, so it can be lower than Box 1 for high earners. 401(k) contributions are still included here.
Box 4 — Social Security tax withheld
Social Security tax taken from your pay, equal to 6.2% of Box 3. If two jobs together pushed you over the wage base, you may have overpaid and can reclaim the excess on your return.
Box 5 — Medicare wages and tips
The portion of your pay subject to Medicare tax. Medicare has no wage cap, so this is often your largest wage box. Like Box 3, it includes 401(k) contributions.
Box 6 — Medicare tax withheld
Medicare tax taken from your pay: 1.45% of Box 5, plus an extra 0.9% on wages above the high-earner threshold.
Box 7 — Social Security tips
Tips you reported to your employer that are subject to Social Security tax.
Box 8 — Allocated tips
Tips your employer assigned to you, common in restaurants. These are not in Boxes 1, 3, 5, or 7, and you may owe tax on them.
Box 9 — Blank
This box is no longer used and should be empty.
Box 10 — Dependent care benefits
Money provided or reimbursed for dependent care, such as through a dependent-care FSA. Amounts over the annual limit become taxable.
Box 11 — Nonqualified plans
Distributions to you from your employer's nonqualified deferred compensation plan.
Box 12 — Codes
One or more lettered codes with dollar amounts (for example D for 401(k), DD for the cost of employer health coverage, W for HSA contributions). Each code has its own tax meaning, and every one is explained in our box 12 code list.
New on the 2026 form: TA for employer contributions to a Trump account, TP for cash tips you reported, and TT for qualified overtime. TT is the one people misread: that pay is already inside box 1 and is not removed from it. The code only marks the deductible portion.
Box 13 — Checkboxes
Three checkboxes: Statutory employee, Retirement plan, and Third-party sick pay. A checked Retirement plan box can limit how much of your IRA contribution is deductible.
Box 14 — Other
On the 2026 form this box is split in two. 14a is the old catch-all, used for things like union dues, state disability insurance, or after-tax contributions, and the labels are not standardized. 14b is new: it carries up to two Treasury tipped occupation codes, which identify whether your job qualifies for the tips deduction. If you work in a tipped role, expect to see a code here alongside TP in box 12.
Box 15 — State and employer state ID
Your work state's two-letter code and your employer's state tax ID number.
Box 16 — State wages
The portion of your pay taxable by the state. It often differs from Box 1 because states treat some items differently.
Box 17 — State income tax
State income tax withheld from your pay.
Box 18 — Local wages
Wages subject to a local or city income tax, if your area has one.
Box 19 — Local income tax
Local or city income tax withheld.
Box 20 — Locality name
The name of the local taxing area for Boxes 18 and 19.
Box a — Employee's SSN
Your Social Security number. Check it carefully; an error here can delay your refund.
Box b — Employer's EIN
Your employer's federal Employer Identification Number.
Box c — Employer's name and address
Your employer's legal name and address.
Box d — Control number
An internal payroll code some employers use to identify your W-2. It is optional and has no tax effect.
Box e — Employee's name
Your full legal name as your employer has it on file. It should match your Social Security card.
Box f — Employee's address
Your address as your employer has it on file.
Check if enough was withheldAll Box 12 codes
General educational information, not tax advice. Box explanations apply to the standard IRS Form W-2.
What the W-2 actually tells you
Your W-2 is the official record of what you earned from your employer last year and how much tax was withheld. Everything you need to file your tax return is on it — but the form itself is dense and confusing, with over 20 numbered and lettered boxes plus state and local sections.
Most people only need to worry about five boxes: Box 1 (taxable wages), Box 2 (federal tax withheld), Box 3 (Social Security wages), Box 4 (Social Security tax), and Box 12 (special codes for retirement, healthcare, and other adjustments). The rest are mostly informational or apply only to specific situations.
If you also have a side hustle or freelance income, you'll receive a 1099 form separately — that's a whole different tax situation.
Quick answers to common W-2 questions
Try the Withholding Checker
Look at Box 2 of your W-2 — the federal tax your employer withheld throughout the year. Was it enough? Too much? Our Withholding Checker compares your withholding to typical expectations based on your income and filing status, so you can spot problems before tax day.
Open the Withholding Checker →