IRS Release Status: FINAL

Sample Excel Import File: W2 2017.xlsx

  • New box 12 Code FF. A new box 12 Code FF has been added to report the total amount of permitted benefits under a qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement (QSEHRA). These new QSEHRAs allow eligible employers to pay or reimburse medical care expenses of eligible employees after the employees provide proof of coverage. The maximum reimbursement for an eligible employee under a QSEHRA is $4,950 ($10,000 if it also provides reimbursements for family members), before indexing for inflation. For more information, see the 21st Century Cures Act, Public Law 114–255, Division C, Section 18001.

  • Leave-based donation programs to aid victims of the severe storms and flooding in Louisiana. Under these programs, employees may donate their vacation, sick, or personal leave in exchange for employer cash payments made before January 1, 2018, to qualified tax-exempt organizations providing relief for the victims of the severe storms and flooding in Louisiana that began on August 11, 2016. The donated leave will not be included in the income or wages of the employee. The employer may deduct the cash payments as business expenses or charitable contributions. For more information, see Notice 2016-55, 2016-40 I.R.B. 432, available at IRS.gov/irb/2016-40_IRB/ar08.html.

  • Leave-based donation programs to aid victims of Hurricane Matthew. Under these programs, employees may donate their vacation, sick, or personal leave in exchange for employer cash payments made before January 1, 2018, to qualified tax-exempt organizations providing relief for the victims of Hurricane Matthew. The donated leave will not be included in the income or wages of the employee. The employer may deduct the cash payments as business expenses or charitable contributions. For more information, see Notice 2016-69, 2016-51 I.R.B. 832, available at IRS.gov/irb/2016-51_IRB/ar11.html.

    The higher penalty amounts apply to returns required to be filed after December 31, 2015 and are indexed for inflation. See Penalties for more information
  • Federal employers in the CNMI. The U.S. Treasury Department and the CNMI Division of Revenue and Taxation entered into an agreement under 5 U.S.C. 5517 (“5517 agreement”) in December 2006. Under this agreement, all federal employers (including the Department of Defense) are required to withhold CNMI income taxes, rather than federal income taxes, and deposit the CNMI taxes with the CNMI Treasury for employees who are subject to CNMI taxes and whose regular place of federal employment is in the CNMI. New guidance for completing Forms W-2 for these employees is available at IRS.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/ special-withholding-rules-for-us-federal-agencyemployers-with-employees-in-cnmi-or puerto-rico. See also Federal employers in the CNMI, later, for additional information.

  • Penalties increased. Failure to file and failure to furnish penalties and penalties for intentional disregard of filing and payee statement requirements have increased due to adjustments for inflation. The higher penalty amounts apply to returns required to be filed after December 31, 2017. See Penalties for more information.

  • De minimis error safe harbor. Notice 2017-9, 2017-4 I.R.B. 542, available at IRS.gov/irb/2017-04_IRB/ ar11.html, provides new information regarding the de minimis error safe harbor. See Exceptions to the penalty, later.

Import Form Fields:

Field NameSizeType DescriptionNotes
See Form Filer Common FieldsFiler fields common to all form types.
See Recipient Common FieldsRecipient fields common to all form types.

Box 1 Amount

12Amount

Wages, tips, other compen.


Box 2 Amount12AmountFederal income tax withheld
Box 3 Amount12AmountSocial security wages
Box 4 Amount12AmountSocial security tax withheld
Box 5 Amount12AmountMedicare wages and tips
Box 6 Amount12AmountMedicare tax withheld
Box 7 Amount12AmountSocial security tips
Box 8 Amount12AmountAllocated tips
Box 10 Amount12AmountDependent care benefits
Box 11 Amount12AmountNonqualified plans
Box 11 is Sect 4571CheckboxSec 457 checkboxX / Y / T / 1 = Checked
Box 12a Amount12AmountSee instructions.
Box 12a Code2TextSee instructions.
Box 12b Amount12AmountSee instructions.
Box 12b Code2TextSee instructions.
Box 12c Amount12AmountSee instructions.
Box 12c Code2TextSee instructions.
Box 12d Amount12AmountSee instructions.
Box 12d Code2TextSee instructions.
Box 13 Checkbox 11CheckboxStatutory employee checkboxX / Y / T / 1 = Checked
Box 13 Checkbox 21CheckboxRetire plan checkboxX / Y / T / 1 = Checked
Box 13 Checkbox 31CheckboxThird-party sick pay checkboxX / Y / T / 1 = Checked
Box 14 All lines60TextOther
Box 14 Line 120TextOther
Box 14 Line 220TextOther
Box 14 Line 320TextOther
Box 15 SUTA State2TextWithholding StateUse state abbreviation
Box 15(1) State ID number20TextEmployer's state ID numberProvided by State
Box 16(1) Amount12AmountState wages, tips, etc
Box 17(1) Amount12AmountState income tax
Box 18(1) Amount12AmountLocal wages, tips, etc
Box 19(1) Amount12AmountLocal income tax
Box 20(1) Locality20TextLocality name
See Form Common FieldsForm fields common to all form types

W-2 Form:

IRS W-2 Form: 

IRS W-2 Instructions: