Does a W2 Show Dates of Employment?
Understand the contents of your W2 form and find practical guidance on how to accurately verify your employment dates.
What a W-2 Form Displays
The IRS Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, is a crucial document employers issue to employees and the Social Security Administration (SSA) each year. This form summarizes an employee’s annual wages and the amount of taxes withheld. It serves as the primary record for individual income tax preparation, ensuring accurate reporting of earnings to the federal and state governments.
A W-2 form details financial information for tax purposes, but it does not show employment dates. Key boxes on the form include Box 1, which reports total taxable wages, and Box 2, which indicates federal income tax withheld. The form also details Social Security and Medicare wages and taxes. Beyond federal tax information, the W-2 provides details regarding state and local taxes, including wages, income tax withheld, and the names of the state and locality. This comprehensive overview of earnings and withholdings is essential for both the employee and tax authorities to reconcile tax liabilities.
Information Not Found on a W-2
While the W-2 form is comprehensive for tax reporting, it does not include all employment-related information. The form does not display an employee’s start date or end date of employment. Its purpose is limited to reporting income and taxes for a given calendar year, not to serve as a complete employment record.
Other details absent from a W-2 include job titles, performance evaluations, reasons for termination, or specific details of benefits such as health insurance coverage or retirement plan contributions beyond what is required for tax reporting in specific boxes like Box 12. The W-2 focuses solely on the financial aspects of compensation and tax obligations, not a comprehensive human resources record.
How to Verify Employment Dates
Since employment dates are not on a W-2, individuals often consult other documents or sources to verify this information. Pay stubs often include the employee’s start date and, if applicable, the end date of employment. Offer letters and employment contracts also serve as reliable records, explicitly stating the agreed-upon start date.
Another approach is to contact the human resources (HR) department of the former employer. Many companies have a formal process for employment verification requests, which might involve completing a specific form or providing written consent for information release. This process takes a few business days. Alternatively, if an employee received an employment verification letter when leaving a job, this document would also contain the precise dates of their tenure.