Fix an incorrect W-2 and W-3

by Intuit •

273 •

Updated 5/25/2026 23:51

Need to fix something on your employee’s W-2? Depending on your payroll service and if the W-2s and W-3s have already been filed, either you can fix it or we’ll fix it for you.

Select your payroll service below to get started.

Note: Not sure which payroll service you have? Here's how to find your payroll service.

Intuit QuickBooks Workforce

Who fixes your W-2 and W-3 depends on your automated taxes and forms settings.

Things on the W-2 that can't be fixed:

Employee prefix (Mr., Mrs.)
Employee address
Business Name
Business address

If your automated taxes and forms is on

Since we file your W-2s for you, you’ll need to contact us to request a correction. We’ll fix it and file a W-2c form with the SSA. You’ll also receive a copy of the W-2c to provide to your employees, and an updated W-3 copy to print for your records. The expert you talk to can let you know when you and your employee should expect to receive the W-2c and W-3c.

If your automated taxes and forms is off

If you find the mistake before you file your W-2s and W-3:

If the mistake is within the current calendar year, you can fix the issue in your product. If it's for a previous year, you'll need to contact us to request a correction.
File your W-2 forms as you normally would. You don’t need to create or file a W-2c form.

If you or your employee finds the mistake after you file your W-2s and W-3:

Contact us us to request a correction. If you want Intuit to do your W-2cs, you'll need to request them. If you want to do them yourself, then you'll use payroll reports to fill out the W-2c form.

You'll create and file a W-2c and W-3 form with the Social Security Administration manually. To do this, see General Instructions for Forms W-2c and W-3c in General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3.

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Assisted

Note: Things on the W-2 that can't be fixed:

Employee prefix (Mr., Mrs., etc.)
Employee address
Business Name
Business address

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Enhanced

Note: If you need to fix a previously filed W-2s and W-3s, you'll be responsible for the correction and submission of the amended forms.

If you find the mistake before you file your W-2s:

You don’t need to create or file a W-2c form. You can just take these steps:

Fix the issue in your product.
File your W-2 forms as you normally would.

If you or your employee finds the mistake after you file your W-2s:

You can create your W-2c and W-3c in QuickBooks and print them on perforated paper only (not pre-printed). You’ll need to file the W-2c and W-3c manually with the Social Security Administration.

Open QuickBooks Desktop.
Select Employees, then Payroll Center.
Select the File Forms tab.
Select Annual Form W-2c/W-3c - corrected Wage and Tax Statement, then Create Form.
Select the employee’s last name.
Select OK.
Select the employee(s) who need a W-2c. Select Review/Edit.
Answer the question: Have you made the W-2 corrections in QuickBooks Desktop?
If Yes - The current QuickBooks Desktop info shows in the Correct information column on the W-2c. Enter the Previously Reported amount for the items that should be corrected.
If No - The current QuickBooks Desktop info shows in the Previously Reported column on the W-2c. Review each W-2c worksheet and enter the correct amounts in the Correct Information column.
Review each page and select Next as needed.
Check the box Check if this is a W-2c (corrected W-2).
Fill in only the lines that need to be fixed in both the Previously Reported and Correct Information columns. Do this on Federal, State and local info as needed.
Remove the amounts from the remaining lines. Right-click on the amounts and select Override, then delete the amounts. Do this on Federal, State and local info as needed.

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Basic, QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Standard