Core Points - The IRS Form W-2 is essential for filing federal tax returns, summarizing income and tracking withheld taxes [1][2] - Employers must provide W-2 forms to employees earning $600 or more in a tax year, with multiple forms possible for those with multiple jobs [5][23] - Self-employed individuals receive Form 1099 instead of W-2, as they do not have taxes withheld by an employer [6][24] Group 1: W-2 Form Overview - Form W-2, known as the Wage and Tax Statement, summarizes income and tracks Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld [2] - Employers are required to send W-2 forms by January 31, and those with 10 or more forms must e-file with the IRS [3][4] - The form includes various boxes detailing taxable income, federal income tax withholding, and other compensation [9][10][11] Group 2: W-2 Form Details - Boxes A-F contain employee and employer information, including names, addresses, and identification numbers [8] - Boxes 1 and 2 report taxable income and federal income tax withheld, while Boxes 3 and 4 focus on Social Security tax details [9][10] - Additional boxes report Medicare tax, tips, dependent care benefits, and other compensation types [11][12][13][14] Group 3: Handling W-2 Issues - If a W-2 is not received by the end of January, employees should contact their employer, and if unresolved by February, they can reach out to the IRS [16][20] - In case of inaccuracies on a W-2, employees should request a corrected form from their employer to avoid potential IRS audits [17][18] - If withholdings exceed tax liability, the IRS will issue a refund, and adjustments can be made to withholdings for future tax periods [19]