How To Use A W2 Generator During Tax Season

Tax season is right around the corner. You and your team may already be feeling the crunch, especially as W2 forms have to be sent by January 31. Whether you have one or a thousand W2 forms to prepare, you’re probably wondering if there’s a better way to do it. A W2 generator could be just the answer you’re looking for.

The Benefits Of A W2 Generator

Any business that needs to send out W2 forms can benefit from using an online W2 maker. In the past, you’d need to order W2 forms from the IRS. The IRS doesn’t offer a printable W2 form. You can’t simply download the template to your computer and get to work. If you haven’t already ordered your paper copies, there’s a good chance you’re not going to meet the deadline for putting W2 forms in the mail. An electronic solution is likely your best bet.
A W2 generator is an electronic solution you’re looking for. By using a W2 maker online, you can get started on preparing W2s right now. There’s no need to place an order and wait for paper copies to arrive. This electronic version is also quick and easy to send to employees. Another bonus is that you’ll be able to store records digitally, which can save space in the office.
Not only is it easy to generate W2 forms with a W2 maker, but it’s also more cost-effective too. Most are designed with user-friendly interfaces that make entering data quick and easy. That can save your team time, which translates into savings. The pricing of electronic W2 forms can also make them a more economical choice. You’ll also save on mailing supplies and postage when you send W2 forms electronically instead.

Do You Have To Go Electronic?

Using paper W2 forms is still an option for many businesses. There are limits to how many paper W2s you can file, though. If your firm has 250 employees or more, you’ll need to file electronically. You can manually enter information for up to 50 employees at a time through the Business Services Online portal.
BSO also lets you upload pre-formatted files. If you have 250 or more employees, this is a much faster way to handle filing all those W2s.

How Does A W2 Maker Work?

Now you know why you should create W2 forms using an online generator. How exactly do they work? As mentioned, most online generators are designed with the user in mind. Their interfaces make generating the W2 easier than ever. To create W2 forms, you simply need to plug in your information. Then you’ll select a template and voila! Your W2 forms are ready to be sent on to your employees.
It’s really that simple.

What Needs to be on the W2?

Before you sit down to generate your W2 forms, it helps to have the information you’ll need to enter organized and ready. You can find most of the information you’ll need on the employee’s last pay stub of the year. If you use payroll software, then you should have this information in an electronic format already.
If you already use an online pay stub maker, check to see if they have a W2 generator. If so, your information may already be in the system. You’ll need to include the following information on each employee’s W2:

• The employee’s information, including their name, SSN, occupation, and address
• Your business’s information
• Earned wages and other compensation for the tax year
• Payroll deductions for the tax year

You’ll need to break down the payroll deductions into different categories. Most of these will be taxes, including:

• Federal tax
• State and local taxes
• Social security deductions
• Medicare deductions

If your employees have employer-paid healthcare or insurance, you’ll need to include the taxable costs of those benefits. If the employee made deferrals or contributed to an IRA, those contributions also need to be noted on the W2.

Read and Review W2 Information

Once you’ve entered all the information into the online generator, you’ll have W2s with a click of a button. It’s recommended to print off unofficial copies of your W2 forms and give them to employees. Ask the employee to review the W2 and correct any errors they see. Correcting an error on a W2 once it’s been filed with the IRS and the Social Security Administration is fairly difficult.
Letting employees make corrections before you issue “official” copies helps you avoid any trouble later on. Once the employee has checked over the W2 and made any necessary corrections, you can file the W2 through the BSO portal. Keep in mind that you need to send copies of the W2 to:

• The SSA
• The IRS
• The employee
• Your own records

If you don’t feel like wasting paper, then you can send an “unofficial” W2 to your employees electronically. Make sure the document is clearly marked in a way that indicates it’s non-final. That way, your employees won’t use these uncorrected copies for their own tax filings.

How To Find The Best W2 Generator

A W2 generator has so many benefits for a business, from making it easier to create W2s to saving time and money. There’s just one problem. How do you choose the right W2 maker for your business? As mentioned, if you already use a pay stub generator, check to see if they offer a W2 maker too. If you’ve already stored pay stub information somewhere, then using that system to generate W2s will be even easier.
You can also look for an online generator that accepts certain file formats or plugs into the payroll platform you use. You can save hours of data entry and improve accuracy as well. Pricing, interface, and customer support are other key factors in choosing the right generator. By carefully comparing providers, you can find the best partner for your business.

Get A Head Start On Tax Season

Don’t let tax season overwhelm you this year. Make it easier than ever by using a W2 generator. You’ll wonder what you ever did without it. Looking for more tips to make tax season less stressful? We have plenty of pointers to help you stay on top. Go ahead - Create Your W2 online today! If you need to create a payslip, try the online pay stub maker!