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Fix an incorrect W-2 and W-3

by Intuit33 Updated 4 weeks ago

Learn what to do if you or your employee finds a mistake on their W-2 or your W-3.

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.

Wondering why the amounts in Boxes 1, 3 and 5 don’t match? See Understand why the wage amounts are different on your employee’s W-2.

Select your payroll service below to get started.

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

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

Note: Things on the W-2 that cannot be fixed:

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

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 employee, and an updated W-3 copy to print for your records. The expert you talk to can let you know approximately when you and your employee should expect to receive the W-2c and W-3c.

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

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

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

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

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

You can fix the issue in your product, then use any payroll reports you need to fill out the W-2c form.

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 employee, and an updated W-3 copy to print for your records. The expert you talk to can let you know approximately when you and your employee should expect to receive the W-2c and W-3c.

Note: Things on the W-2 that cannot be fixed:

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

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:

  1. Fix the issue in your product.
  2. 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.

  1. Open QuickBooks Desktop
  2. Select Employees, then Payroll Center.
  3. Select the File Forms tab.
  4. Select Annual Form W-2c/W-3c - corrected Wage and Tax Statement, then Create Form.
  5. Select the employee’s last name.
  6. Select OK.
  7. Select the employee(s) who need a W-2c. Select Review/Edit.
  8. 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.
  9. Review each page and select Next as needed.
  10. Check the box Check if this is a W-2c (corrected W-2).
  11. 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.
  12. 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.

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

You can fix the issue in your product, then use any payroll reports you need to fill out the W-2c form.

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