W-2 has multiple states, even though I only worked in one. Do I need to enter it all?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
April 1, 2025
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Despite leaving the company in 2023 and only having residual garden leave pay in 2024, my W-2 has 3 pages: one for CT where I live, and 2 for other states I did not work / live in. So I have 3 pages for boxes 15-17 with different amounts in line 16 and 17 for each state.

Do I need to "add another state" and add these amounts in? And what impact will that have on my taxes? I won't be paying extra tax on this, i.e. entering in wages 3 times in box 16 right?

For context, the CT state tax (box 17) is $300 but the NY (where I don't live and didn't work) has $50K. And then a 3rd state lists $1200.

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Best answer by KeshaH

The first thing I'd suggest is checking the paystub for this bonus to ensure that the W-2 is reporting state tax withholding correctly. If your paystub shows the additional states being withheld, you'll need to include all of the states on your W-2 and file nonresident returns in those additional states.

When you prepare the returns, make sure you allocate $0 of income as earned in those states. This will ensure you get a refund from those states since none of your income would be taxable to those states. You will still have a balance due on your Connecticut return since there was little tax withheld.

If the paystub shows all of the withholding being for Connecticut, your old employer should issue you a corrected W-2 with the correct amount showing for boxes 15-17.

JohnB5677

Please clarify your question.

What is the value in box 1?
Did you contact the employer, or HR to request an explanation?

Please contact us again to provide some additional details.

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aE77_2Author

The value in box 1 was my 2023 bonus paid in 2024 along with severance that extended into 2024. I left the firm in September of 2023. The employer has not been helpful.

I'm not sure I understand your question though - for 2024, I did not work for this company and only received the amounts above. Yet (1) I have 3 W-2 pages for NY and NC in addition to CT, (2) my CT tax paid was only a few hundred dollars when in fact it should have been in the tens of thousands, (3) my NY taxes paid are in the tens of thousands despite not working/living in the state, and (4) TT is showing I owe all the CT tax but getting none of the NY benefit. If you swap out my NY tax amount in box 17 for the CT box 17, I would likely get a refund instead of owing a ton. I have no idea why page 3 is for NC - I didn't step foot in that state in 2024 and the firm is based in MN...

Is that helpful?

KeshaHAnswer

If the paystub shows all of the withholding being for Connecticut, your old employer should issue you a corrected W-2 with the correct amount showing for boxes 15-17.