W-2 Verification Code

As was the case in prior years, some Forms W-2 for the 2017 tax year will contain a 16 character verification code in box 9 of the form.

The IRS has requested that practitioners who see this code in box 9 of Form W-2 enter it into their tax preparation software for the applicable client recipient.  However, entering the code is not required.

This is a pilot program started by the IRS in earlier years, and it continues in the 2017 tax year.  The IRS has invited certain payroll service providers to participate in the program.  Forms W-2 that were prepared by such providers include the verification code in box 9.  Otherwise, box 9 is blank for Forms W-2 prepared by anyone else.