This year Turbo Tax does not accept Box 18 Local wages & tips being blank when Box 19 is non zero. Was never an issue for past 25 years. What do i do? Thx

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
February 22, 2025
4 replies
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I don't want to add a number to box 18 which will not match the W2 version sent to the IRS

Best answer by SusanY1

Hey I just want to apologize for my response and, I thought you were responding for Turbo tax, and i'm just very frustrated that I was so close to to being done with taxes and now Turbo Tax wants me to pay the $159 upgrade fee for them to tell me the work around to something that has never been a problem for 30 years

To resolve this error, populate box 18 with the information in Box 1 (or Box 16 if different). Some issuers of Form W-2 only put a figure in this box when it differs from the Box 1 figure. If there is no number, the Box 1 (or 16) number can be used here.

It will not cause any issues related to "not matching" the W-2 data as the data sent to the IRS doesn't include the state and the data sent to the state will be populated with the Box 1 number when there are no state adjustments.

@Jtc6
@mkopack73

VolvoGirl

Employee

If box 19 Local Income Tax has an amount then put the amount from box 1 into box 18 for Local Wages.

johnmelissaskiAuthor

Hi I don't like that answer because I don't want to modify my W2 Box 18 entry to make it different than the W2 sent to the IRS and get audited because they don't match. This is a software bug in this year's Turbo tax, wouldn't you agree? Thank you ahead time for continuing to look into this issue that will affect everyone in NJ at least

johnmelissaskiAuthor

Jtc6

I’m having the same problem. Went back to look at last years W2 and box 18 was blank and box 19-20 had amount/locality. Had no issues submitting last year through Turbo Tax. Has anyone found a solution?

nunheimerk

I too checked back thru 8 yrs of returns. NJ W2 has always been same. Nothing in Box 18; 2 amounts in Box 19. TT never flagged it until this year. I see the expert response to populate Box 18 w/ either Box 1 or Box 16, and the explanation. however, i still wonder if this is a TT bug that should be looked at - I work for one of the largest companies in US. There must be thousands of EE's all having this 'new' problem in 2025 TT version.

tax128

I am in the same situation, box 18 is empty but boxes 1 and 16 have different amounts. To confirm, I should enter the amount in box 16? I am in NJ.

MonikaK1

If there is a dollar amount in Box 19, Local Income Tax, TurboTax will expect there to be an amount in Box 18, Local wages, tips, etc. There should also be an entry in Box 20, Locality name. If your employer left Box 18 blank, and all of your income was earned in the same locality, then the amount from Box 1 / Box 16 would normally be repeated in Box 18. If you have a question as to how your Local Income Tax was determined, ask your employer or payroll office. If there is an error, they may need to issue you a corrected W-2.

If you have local taxes, you may have wages that are taxable by more than one locality (such as a city or school district). You can add another line for Boxes 18 through 20 by clicking the "+Add another locality" button that appears below Boxes 18 through 20.

See this TurboTax tips article for more information about Form W-2.

See this help article for more information about city taxes supported by TurboTax.

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