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Form W-2 Guide 2026: Wage and Tax Statement PDF & Instructions
Complete overview of IRS Form W-2 for employees, employers, and payroll professionals. Understand box definitions, FICA tax limits, and paystub matching.
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What Is IRS Form W-2?
IRS Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) is the mandatory annual federal tax document that employers send to every employee and the Social Security Administration (SSA) by January 31 following the tax year.
Key Boxes on Form W-2
| Box Number | Field Description | Tax Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Box 1 | Wages, tips, other compensation | Subject to federal income tax (after pre-tax 401k/health deductions) |
| Box 2 | Federal income tax withheld | Total federal income tax withheld during the year |
| Box 3 | Social Security wages | Subject to Social Security tax (capped at $176,100 in 2026) |
| Box 4 | Social Security tax withheld | 6.2% of Box 3 wages |
| Box 5 | Medicare wages and tips | Subject to Medicare tax (no wage limit) |
| Box 6 | Medicare tax withheld | 1.45% of Box 5 wages (plus 0.9% additional for high earners) |
Form W-2 vs Paystubs: How They Work Together
Throughout the calendar year, each pay period slip issued to an employee records current wages and cumulative YTD withholdings. The numbers reported on your final December paystub directly dictate the values printed on your annual Form W-2. Read our full W-2 vs Paystub Guide.
Generate Professional Paystubs: Create custom payroll check stubs for employee verification with our Free Paystub Generator or fill out Form W-9 Online.