Can an employee change their Social Security number?

Under California Labor Code § 1024.6, your employer cannot fire, discriminate, retaliate, or take any adverse action against you if you update or try to update your personal information based on a lawful change of name, Social Security number, or federal employment authorization document.

Why does employer need Social Security number?

You need your employes’ social security numbers. Your Social Security number provided in an online employment application will be used to identify your records, and for background checks and other requests for information about you from employers, schools, banks, and others who know you, to the extent allowed by law.

What is the employer’s responsibility concerning your Social Security?

Employers are required to: Report wages by filing Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) for each employee from whom income, Social Security or Medicare taxes are withheld, or would have been withheld if exemption had not been claimed on Form W-4 (Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate).

What if my employer gives me an incorrect W2?

Call the IRS toll free at 800-829-1040 or make an appointment to visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC). The IRS will send your employer a letter requesting that they furnish you a corrected Form W-2 within ten days.

What happens if my employer entered the wrong Social Security number?

It will not sort out on it’s own. The IRS gets copy of the W-2 and so does the Social Security Administration. Your SS tax payments will not get credited to you if the wrong SSN is on the W-2. If your employer refuses to fix the error, then contact the IRS for assistance.

When to contact Social Security about a mismatched employee?

If these steps do not resolve the issue, the letter instructs the employer to have the employee contact any Social Security office to resolve the issue and inform the employer of any corrections that need to be made. The employer is instructed to provide correct information to the SSA within 60 days.

What happens if an employer does not include the correct SSN on Form W-2?

If an employer receives an IRS penalty notice for failing to include the employee’s correct SSN on Form W-2, the employer may seek a waiver of the penalty based on the employee’s failure to provide the correct SSN.

What to do if you have an incorrect SSN?

If you have already sent a Form W-2 with an incorrect name and/or SSN, then submit a Form W-2c (Corrected Wage and Tax Statement) to correct the mismatch. W-2c services are available through BSO Wage Reporting.