Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.

Tax Season Resource

How to Fill Out a W-2 Form

Before you fill out your taxes, you’ll need to have your W2 in hand. Here’s what you should know about recognizing and using this important tax form.

Chime does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.

What Is A W2 tax Form

What Is a W2 Form?

A W2 is basically like a pay stub for your entire year. It shows how much you were paid — and how much was withheld in taxes — from January 1 to December 31 of the previous year.

Since you’ll use it to fill out both your federal and state taxes, it’s vital the information is accurate. If you notice an error anywhere on the form, including your name, address, Social Security number, or wages, be sure to contact your employer immediately. 

When do W2s Come Out

When Do W2s Come Out?

If you’re wondering “how to get w2 online” or “how to fill out w2,” the good news is you don’t have to do anything other than sit back and wait. 

Companies send out W2 forms, either electronically or by snail mail, to any employees who earned at least $600 during the previous year. They’re required to do so by January 31 — so if you don’t get yours by early February, you should reach out and ask for another copy. 

If, for some reason, your employer refuses to send one, you’ll need to contact the IRS.

how to fill out your w2 tips

5 Dos and Don’ts of Filing Taxes With a W2

Do take advantage of free services: If your income was $69,000 or below, the IRS website connects you to a variety of tax software programs that make filing free and easy. 

Do file, even if you’re under the federal filing requirement: If you’re single, under 65, and earned less than $12,200, you technically don’t need to file a federal tax return. But if you had federal taxes withheld (check box 2 on your W2), it’s worth doing so, as you might be in for a lucky surprise spelled R-E-F-U-N-D. (Which you can funnel directly to your online account.)

Under both state and federal tax filing requirements? And have a zero balance, according to your tax prep software? Rosalind W. Sutch, a certified public accountant and shareholder at Drucker & Scaccetti, recommends submitting your return anyway. “It’s a way to document with the IRS that you didn’t owe any tax to avoid confusion in the future,” she says. (Since it won’t cost you anything, might as well play it safe!)

 

Do keep a copy: Even if you’re filing electronically, you should keep a copy of your W2 for three years. You’ll need it if you’re ever audited.

Don’t ignore it: Your employer sends a copy of your W2 to the IRS, too. So, unfortunately, you can’t stuff your W2 in a drawer and pretend you never received it. If you’re above the federal filing requirement, you need to file your taxes, whether or not you owe money. (And even if you’re below the federal filing requirement, you may still need to file a state return; check your state’s tax website for details and free filing options.) 

Don’t expect one as a freelancer or gig worker: If you were an independent contractor — rather than an employee — you’ll get a 1099 form instead of a W2. Learn more about the ins and outs of self-employment taxes here. 

Questions? Check out our FAQ

Or go to chime.com/taxes for more.

What is Chime?

At Chime, we’ve created a new approach to online banking that doesn’t rely on fees~, gets you your paycheck up to 2 days early with direct deposit^ ,  and helps you grow your savings automatically. When you open a bank account through Chime, you get a Visa® Debit Card and a Checking Account that can be managed entirely from your smartphone, plus an optional Savings Account that helps you grow your savings automatically! The Chime mobile banking app is available on both Android and iOS.

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.

Does Chime accept joint refunds?

Yes, however, a tax refund may only be direct deposited into an account that is in your name. To accept a joint refund, just make sure the name of the primary filer listed on your tax refund is the exact same name listed on the Chime Checking Account you are depositing to. 

Important: If the primary filer’s name doesn’t match the name on the Chime Checking Account it is being deposited to, the deposit will be rejected and returned to the IRS. No more than three electronic refunds can be deposited into a single financial account or prepaid card. If you exceed this limit, you will receive a notice from the IRS and a paper check refund.

Can I get my tax refund deposited to my Chime Checking Account?

Yes, you can!

Will I get my tax refund direct deposited up to five (5) days early¹?

We can’t  guarantee that your tax refund will deposit earlier than the estimated date provided by the IRS. That said, we’ll always post your tax refund to your account as soon as we receive it!

How do I deposit my tax refund to my Chime account?

Direct deposit is the easiest way to deposit your tax refund into your Chime Checking Account. Whether you file online or on paper, all you need to do is enter your Chime Checking Account Number and Routing Number where prompted. 

You can find your Checking Account Number and Routing Number in the Chime app! Just go to SettingsAccount Information!

Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card and the Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card are issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit and credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your Card for its issuing bank.

Chime Checkbook: While Chime doesn’t issue personal checkbooks to write checks, Chime Checkbook gives you the freedom to send checks to anyone, anytime, from anywhere. See your issuing bank’s Deposit Account Agreement for full Chime Checkbook details.

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Opinions, advice, services, or other information or content expressed or contributed here by customers, users, or others, are those of the respective author(s) or contributor(s) and do not necessarily state or reflect those of The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. (“Banks”). Banks are not responsible for the accuracy of any content provided by author(s) or contributor(s).

Third-party trademarks referenced for informational purposes only; no endorsements implied.

Chime does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.

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