Report flags / W-2
NUMBERS“Social Security wages above the yearly maximum”
What this flag on a W-2 means, why it matters, and what to check.
What it means
Box 3 is higher than that year's Social Security wage base.
Why it matters
No employer can report more than the base in box 3. Above it, only box 5 keeps growing.
Ordinary explanations
- None for a single employer's W-2.
What to check
Ask the applicant for the IRS wage and income transcript (free at irs.gov or with Form 4506-T), which lists W-2 amounts as the employer reported them.
A flag is a reason to verify with the source, not proof. Apply the same steps to every applicant.
Check a document for this and moreStubSure checks the file, the numbers and how documents line up, in about a minute.
Check a document — $4.99