How many copies does an employer make of the W-2 form?
Sarah Duran
Published Jun 03, 2026
six copies
An employer prepares six copies of each form W-2 per employee. Yes, that’s a lot of paperwork. Copy A is transmitted to the Social Security Administration (SSA) along with a form W-3 (the form W-3 reports the total of all of the forms W-2 for the employer).
Why do I have 2 pages of w2?
You might get more than one W-2 if you work for an employment agency or your company changed ownership or payroll providers. If your W-2s are identical down to the last number and letter, just enter one of them. Keep the duplicate with your tax records or securely destroy it.
Who files a W-3 form?
Why the IRS and SSA require employers to file Form W-3. When individuals file their annual tax return, they report the total income they’ve earned, taxes already paid (usually via employer withholding), and tax owed (or due to be refunded).
Why do I have 2 pages of W-2?
You might get more than one W-2 if you work for an employment agency or your company changed ownership or payroll providers. If your federal wage info in boxes 1–14 is the same (or blank on one W-2), and the state info in boxes 15–17 (or local info in boxes 18–20) is different, you’ll enter both on the same W-2 screen.
Do you have to print W2 forms for employees?
First of all, you must remember that you should print W-2 forms for employees independently of the number of people who work in your company. You have to print W2 form and fill it for each person who paid their: income tax; Medicare tax; Social Security tax.
Who is responsible for filing the W2 form?
The official W2 Form contains the following six parts: Copy A – The employer is responsible for filing this copy with the SSA. Copy 1 – The employer is responsible for filing this copy with the appropriate State, city and local taxing authorities.
How to file a W-2 with social security?
Form W-2c/W-3c Instructions. Social Security accepts laser printed Forms W-2/W-3 as well as the standard red drop-out ink forms. Both the laser forms and the red drop-out ink forms must comply with Internal Revenue Service’s Publication 1141 and require pre-approval from Social Security. Free– File Up to 50 W-2s Using W-2 Online.
When do you send out the W-2 tax forms?
The W-2 form reports what your employees have earned and what taxes were withheld from their paychecks. It will also report on the Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax (the Social Security tax). As the employer, it is your responsibly to prepare and hand out each employee’s W-2 form before or on January 31st.