Do I send my real W2 to a tax accountant?
April 30, 2013 11:28 PM Subscribe
I'm mailing out a copy of my tax return and W2's to my employer's tax accountant, so he can take a look at them and do an adjustment. Do I send him the real W2's, or a copy?
I'm a bit confused... even though I'm sure the answer is quite simple. I still have all my W2's, because I filed online. Had I not filed online, I wouldn't have the main W2's anymore. Argh does it even matter?
I'm a bit confused... even though I'm sure the answer is quite simple. I still have all my W2's, because I filed online. Had I not filed online, I wouldn't have the main W2's anymore. Argh does it even matter?
Response by poster: Ah, he's not directly employed by the employer. He's the outside tax guy that seemingly everyone goes to.
posted by Xere at 12:00 AM on May 1, 2013
posted by Xere at 12:00 AM on May 1, 2013
I used the original document when I sent my W2 off to my accountant. In addition to my taxes, my original W2 was included, which is now in the file cabinet. I trust my accountant, who is also my brother, so there's that. Since this is just an adjustment, send a copy first, then if he asks for the original, ask him the details why a copy doesn't fly.
posted by Wynkoop at 12:15 AM on May 1, 2013
posted by Wynkoop at 12:15 AM on May 1, 2013
Best answer: The accountant only actually needs the numbers in the boxes on the W-2 and your personally identifying information. The form just makes it convenient and shows that you didn't mis-type.
Copy will work, there's no difference.
posted by disillusioned at 12:28 AM on May 1, 2013 [3 favorites]
Copy will work, there's no difference.
posted by disillusioned at 12:28 AM on May 1, 2013 [3 favorites]
Copy: always keep the original is for you and the IRS, not a tax accountant's records.
But I'm confused: is this guy doing YOUR personal taxes, in which case yeah, it's reasonable to ask for a copy of your W-2; or is he doing your employer's (personal or business) taxes? Because if he's doing an adjustment to the business taxes then he should be able to get a copy *through* the business.
posted by easily confused at 3:19 AM on May 1, 2013
But I'm confused: is this guy doing YOUR personal taxes, in which case yeah, it's reasonable to ask for a copy of your W-2; or is he doing your employer's (personal or business) taxes? Because if he's doing an adjustment to the business taxes then he should be able to get a copy *through* the business.
posted by easily confused at 3:19 AM on May 1, 2013
Agree that a copy should be fine, but don't you already have multiple copies? My w-2s have generally had copies for state, federal, local and 1 extra (i.e. 4 copies).
posted by TedW at 5:45 AM on May 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by TedW at 5:45 AM on May 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
I switched to online delivery of my W2s a couple of years ago when my employer's payment processor offered it. So I don't get an "original" copy unless I jump through some hoops.
An account can enter the numbers off of a printed PDF just as well as they can from the same document printed on fancy paper.
posted by sparklemotion at 8:30 AM on May 1, 2013
An account can enter the numbers off of a printed PDF just as well as they can from the same document printed on fancy paper.
posted by sparklemotion at 8:30 AM on May 1, 2013
I'm mailing out a copy of my tax return and W2's to my employer's tax accountant
WTF?? Your employer, or your employer's accountant, does not need a copy of your tax return.
As others have pointed out, your employer (or their accountant) should already have your W-2 information -- they should already have it! And they shouldn't ever need a copy of your tax return for anything, it's none of their business.
You say you are a bit confused... how did all this come about? Did you get a phone call from someone who explained in a confusing way that you needed to submit this info somewhere?
This sounds like a setup for identity theft.
posted by yohko at 1:57 PM on May 1, 2013
WTF?? Your employer, or your employer's accountant, does not need a copy of your tax return.
As others have pointed out, your employer (or their accountant) should already have your W-2 information -- they should already have it! And they shouldn't ever need a copy of your tax return for anything, it's none of their business.
You say you are a bit confused... how did all this come about? Did you get a phone call from someone who explained in a confusing way that you needed to submit this info somewhere?
This sounds like a setup for identity theft.
posted by yohko at 1:57 PM on May 1, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks. I'll send him a copy of my W2, so he can adjust my tax return.
Also, thanks to those concerned for me. Thie tax accountant is not affiliated in any way with my employer. He just happens to be the guy everyone else has gone to in the past. So, no, there's no way he would have a copy of any of our W2's to begin with. I realized my (self-completed) tax return resulted in a refund that was wayyy lower than everyone else ... and was then recommended to contact the tax guy everyone else goes to (and whom I initially refused to go to, because surely I could do it myself online? Apparently not).
posted by Xere at 4:18 PM on May 1, 2013
Also, thanks to those concerned for me. Thie tax accountant is not affiliated in any way with my employer. He just happens to be the guy everyone else has gone to in the past. So, no, there's no way he would have a copy of any of our W2's to begin with. I realized my (self-completed) tax return resulted in a refund that was wayyy lower than everyone else ... and was then recommended to contact the tax guy everyone else goes to (and whom I initially refused to go to, because surely I could do it myself online? Apparently not).
posted by Xere at 4:18 PM on May 1, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by empath at 11:54 PM on April 30, 2013