What Does Box 12 Code EE Mean on a W-2?
Roth 457(b) contribution — what it means, whether it's taxable, and what to do with it.
By the Easy Guides Editorial Team · Updated for 2026
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Quick answer
Code EE in Box 12 of your W-2 means roth 457(b) contribution. Tax treatment: After-tax.
What Code EE means
It's the Roth version of Code G, available in some government 457(b) plans.
Does Code EE affect my taxes?
Your Roth contribution to a governmental 457(b) plan. It's after-tax, so it's already in your Box 1 wages with no deduction.
Where to find Code EE on your W-2
Box 12 has up to four slots — labeled 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. Each slot shows a letter code and a dollar amount. The 12a–12d labels are just line numbers; the actual code is the small letter next to the money. So "12a: EE 5,000" means Code EE with a $5,000 amount. When you file, enter the code and amount exactly as shown.
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Frequently asked questions
Your Roth contribution to a governmental 457(b) plan. It's after-tax, so it's already in your Box 1 wages with no deduction.
Enter the code and amount into your tax software exactly as they appear on the W-2. The software handles the rest — you don't calculate anything by hand.
Box 12 has up to four slots labeled 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. Each slot holds a letter code and a dollar amount. The small letter (like EE) is the code; the number next to it is the amount. The 12a–12d labels are just line labels, not codes.