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DOR > En Español  > Señora Hinojosa Habla De Impuestos > La Diferencia Entre el W-2 y un Talón de Cheque > The Difference Between the W-2 and a Pay Stub The Difference Between the W-2 and a Pay Stub

Dec. 6, 2011

Sometimes it seems like the best thing about paying your taxes is the possibility of a refund. You might be tempted to fill out your forms early by using your last pay stub from 2011, but don’t do it! Filing correctly is the only way to get your refund quickly and accurately, so make sure you wait for the right forms.

Top three reasons why you should just wait for your official W-2 before filing your 2010 taxes:

  1. Returns can be delayed if they are filed without a W-2. The major difference between a pay stub and a W-2 is a pay stub is not considered an official document with which you can file your return, while a W-2 is. If you mail in your return and attach your pay stub instead of a W-2, you can expect to get a letter from the Indiana Department of Revenue requesting the official W-2 since they can’t process your return without it. By the time you finally get your W-2 and mail it back to the Indiana Department of Revenue, you would have delayed any refund due to you, rather than speed up the process.
  1. You must use your W-2 to file your taxes electronically. Even if you use an e-file service, go to a paid preparer or buy the tax-preparation software and file yourself, you must use your W-2. The information from your pay stub is not complete and is not the same as on the W-2. Your paycheck stub will not be accepted by the federal or state government when you file your taxes.
  1. Navigating a pay stub can be tricky. If the information on the pay stub is inaccurate or incomplete compared with your W-2, it can result in your tax return being incorrect or late. Your pay stub often does not have all your taxes and tax-saving items accounted for. This will cause your tax return to be inaccurate.

Waiting for your official W-2 shouldn’t take long. Your employer is required to make your W-2 available to you by the end of January (at the latest), and most employees get their W-2s before then. That’s a short wait compared to the weeks or months of delays you would experience if you choose to use your pay stub to file your 2010 taxes.

If you wait to file your taxes with your official W-2, your tax return will be filed correctly the first time. If you do have a refund coming; you will get it quicker if it is done correctly. This is especially true if you file electronically. People who electronically file through an e-file service generally receive their refunds within 7 to 12 days. Some receive their refund in as little as three days if they have their funds electronically deposited into their bank accounts.

Next month the Department of Revenue will be releasing good news about e-filing. It’s getting faster and easier, so remember check here in December.

If you have questions or concerns about the upcoming tax season, you can always speak to a bilingual representative by calling (317) 232-2240 (press 2 for Spanish) from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Also, be sure to visit and subscribe to the Department’s Spanish website at www.impuestos.in.gov/ to get the latest tax updates.

To return to Señora Hinojosa’s tax blog, click here.

 

If you have any suggestions for this blog, please e-mail those suggestions to Señora Hinojosa at feedback@dor.in.gov

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