Office of Human Resources - Payroll

Understanding your W-2

Here is a "reasonable facsimile" of your W-2.
Mouse over any of the colored boxes for an expanation of what will appear in the box.

22222 Void a Employee's social security number For Official Use Only
OMB No. 1545-0008

b. Employer identification number (EIN)

1 Wages, tips, other compensation

2 Federal income tax withheld

c Employer's name, address and ZIP code

3 Social security wages

4 Social security tax withheld

5 Medicare wages and tips

6 Medicare tax withheld

7 Social security tips

8 Allocated tips

d Control number

9 Advance EIC payment

10 Dependent care benefits

e Employee's first name and initial

Last name

Suff.

11 Nonqualified plans

12a See instructions for box 12

c
o
d
e

 

f Employee's address and ZIP code

13 Statutory Employee [ ]
Retirement Plan [ ]
Third-party sick pay [ ]

12b

  

14 Other

12c

  

12d

  

15 state

Employer's state ID number

16 State wages, tipes, etc.

17 State income tax

18 Local wages, tips, etc.

19 Local income tax

20 Locality name
Local name will appear here.
The total amount of tax withheld
in the calendar year.
The total of reportable wages, less reductions,
which are not subject to Local taxes.
The total amount of state tax withheld
in the calendar year, including
"additional withholding."
This is your taxable wages (total gross wages less
all reduction items such as health, dental and
vision insurance, parking, retirement, etc).
This amount will not equal the year-to-date
total gross wages on your last paycheck for the year.
For most employees this figure will match Box 1.
If you are an NRA receiving a 1042S for tax-exempt
wages, this amount may be different than Box 1.
The employee's tax residence state is entered here.
"Retirement Plan" will be checked
if enrolled in any retirement plan.
This box is for Deferred Compensation and
Other Compensation. There are several types
of compensation and benefits that can be
reported in Box 12.
The category is not applicable to ASU.
Total amount of dependent care withheld.
The amount paid to the employee as Advance
Earned Income Credit Payment based on
the filing of a W-5.
The category is not applicable to ASU.
The category is not applicable to ASU.
The total amount of Medicare withheld.
There is no yearly limit for Medicare tax withheld.
This category is not applicable to ASU.
Total amount of Social Security withheld. There is
an annual maximum for tax each year; for 2009, it is $6,621.60
Total reportable wages less reductions that are not
subject to Social Security taxes. Retirement plans are not
"reduction items" for Social Security tax purposes and
so are included. There is an annual maximum of
Social Security Wages; for 2009, it is $106,800.00
Total amount of federal tax withheld, including "additional withholding."
This is your taxable wages (total gross wages
less all "reduction items" such as retirement,
health, dental and vision insurance, parking, etc.).
This amount will not equal the year-to-date total
on your last paycheck for the year. This amount
does include taxable employer-provided benefits
such as tuition assistnace benefits, housing subsidy, etc.