Wages, salaries, and tips received by an employee for performing services for an employer must be included in your gross income. Amounts withheld from pay for income tax, social security and Medicare taxes, pensions, insurance, and union dues are considered "received" and must be included in gross income in the year they are withheld. Generally, your employer's contribution to a qualified pension plan for you is not included in gross income at the time it is contributed. However, amounts withheld under certain salary reduction agreements with your employer may have to be included in gross income in the year they are withheld. See Publication 17, Chapter 5, Wages Salaries and Other Earnings, and Chapter 6, Tip Income, for specific information.

Your employer should provide a Form W-2 (PDF) showing your total income and withholding. You must include all wages and withholding's from all Forms W-2 if you received more than one and if filing jointly all of your spouses Forms W-2. Attach a copy of each W–2 to the front of your tax return as indicated in the instructions. Please note that Form 1099-MISC (PDF) generally reports self-employment income. See Publication 334, Tax Guide For Small Business, for more information.

NOTE: Topic 407 provides information on Business Income.

File an amended tax return, Form 1040X (PDF), if you receive a Form W-2 after your return is filed. Topic 308 provides information on amended returns.

Refer to Topic 154, Forms W-2 and Form 1099–R (What To Do If Not Received), if you have not received one or more Forms W–2 by January 31st.

For more information on tips, refer to Publication 531, Reporting Tip Income. Publication 1244, which contains Form 4070A, Employee's Daily Record of Tips to Employer, and Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, should also be helpful to you.

Page Last Reviewed or Updated: December 22, 2008

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