Aug 12, 2020

What Has Changed On The 2020 W-2

How Can Changes In The W-2 Affect Your Company?

It’s important to know what changes have been made to the W-2 filing process. Not complying with changes can lead to file rejections, delays for delivery of employee copies, and added costs of reprinting corrected W-2s and refiling Federal and State copies.

 

IRS Form W-2 Security Changes

Due to security concerns the SSA now allows employers to truncate the social security numbers on employee W-2 copies. W-2s have been stolen from mailboxes, out of vehicles, and shared residencies. Truncating employee W-2s is a way to eliminate the ability of these thieves to file false information and claim refunds.

Employers may not truncate the SSN on copy A which is sent to the SSA.

 

Change Made Due To The Military Spouse Residency Relief Act

Due to a change to the MSRRA civilian spouses of service-members can elect to use the same residence for purposes of taxation as the service-member. Information is available at https://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Misc%20Files/MilSpouseResReliefAct.pdf. 

There has been a clarification on code P reporting in Box 12 of the W-2. Employers should only report moving expenses reimbursements paid directly to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who moves per a military order and incident to a permanent change of station, which are excludable under section 132(g) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Change Made For Employers Subject to The Railroad Retirement Tax  

Awards compensating employees for lost wages are subject to Railroad Retirement Tax. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that award payments to employees to compensate for working time lost due to an on-the-job injury is taxable “compensation” under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA). If you are a railroad employer, you must withhold Tier 1 and Tier 2 taxes when you pay such awards to employees covered by the RRTA.

 

Information Regarding Changes Related to Disaster Tax Relief

Disaster tax relief. Disaster tax relief is available for those affected by recent disasters. For more information about disaster relief, go to https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations. 

 

Penalties Have Increase For Failure To Comply With W-2 Filing Requirements

According to the IRS W-2 Instructions For 2020:

Failure to file correct information returns by the due date. If you fail to file a correct Form W-2 by the due date and cannot show reasonable cause, you may be subject to a penalty as provided under section 6721. The penalty applies if you: 

    • Fail to file timely, 

    • Fail to include all information required to be shown on Form W-2, 

    • Include incorrect information on Form W-2, 

    • File on paper forms when you are required to e-file, 

    • Report an incorrect TIN, 

    • Fail to report a TIN, or 

    • Fail to file paper Forms W-2 that are machine readable. 

The amount of the penalty is based on when you file the correct Form W-2. Penalties are indexed for inflation. The penalty amounts shown below apply to filings due after December 31, 2020. 

The penalty is: 

    • $50 per Form W-2 if you correctly file within 30 days of the due date; the maximum penalty is $565,000 per year ($197,500 for small businesses, defined in Small businesses). 

    • $110 per Form W-2 if you correctly file more than 30 days after the due date but by August 1; the maximum penalty is $1,696,000 per year ($565,000 for small businesses). 

  • $280 per Form W-2 if you file after August 1, do not file corrections, or do not file required Forms W-2; the maximum penalty is $3,392,000 per year ($1,130,500 for small businesses).

 

For more information the complete instructions for the 2020 W-2 are available at: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw2w3.pdf

 

Aatrix Software is a leading provider of payroll tax reporting and single-point eFiling services. Over 300,000 businesses use Aatrix for payroll reporting in the US and Canada and processes millions of W-2s annually.

 

Our customers say it best!

 

“Aatrix is very easy to use and takes the pressure out of eFiling and using the correct forms. I remember when the social security number was moved a few years ago on the W2. It didn't matter that I didn't know before filing because Aatrix already had the correct form in the correct format!” 

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Aatrix checks all the boxes when it comes to W2 filings. Aatrix is integrated into over 60 payroll applications and offers an easy to use stand alone filing option - w2.aatrix.com See why over 300,000 businesses and 97% of Aatrix filers would recommend the solution to others.