Online Services, Taxes

Own a Small Business? File Your W-2s Online

November 21, 2016 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: November 21, 2016

two women on laptop If you’re a small business owner, you know you have to file your Form W‑2 information with Social Security every year. You might not have realized you can save time and avoid errors by filing online.

The filing deadline for tax year 2016 is January 31, 2017. Getting started is easy.  Just register for Business Services Online. It’s free, fast, and secure! Simple fill-in pages guide you through each step of entering your W‑2 information for each employee, and providing it to Social Security. The website automatically totals your entries and creates Form W‑3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements. The site also includes fill-in pages for filing Forms W‑2c, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement.

File up to 50 W‑2s with each online wage report. You can even produce W‑2s for your employees that satisfy state and local tax laws. There’s no reason to hurry when completing the online forms because you can save your reports while they’re in progress. If the website detects a questionable entry, it alerts you on the spot. This can save you time on correcting mistakes down the road. It also helps your employees by reducing errors that could affect their future Social Security benefits.

Larger businesses may prefer to take advantage of our file upload service. Instead of entering your W‑2 or W‑2c information online, this Business Services Online feature lets you upload a file containing formatted wage data. Visit our Employer W‑2 Filing page for file specifications and software you can use to check your data format. Businesses that need to file 250 or more W‑2s may not use paper forms unless the Internal Revenue Service grants them a waiver.

While you’re registering for Business Services Online, consider signing up for the Social Security Number Verification Service. Use this feature to verify employee names and Social Security numbers for wage reporting. Verify up to 10 names and numbers at a time and receive immediate results. For larger quantities, you can upload a formatted data file. We’ll usually have your results the next business day.

Social Security is with the public through life’s journey. This includes joining hands with employers to secure today and tomorrow.

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About the Author

Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications

Comments

  1. DEBBIE F.

    I have a verification code to enter for request of approval for using View Name and Social Security Number Errors that needs to be entered within so many days and I can not find where or how I need to do this Could you help walk me through this please Thank You

  2. CONSUELO G.

    I filed my W2c online on the SSA website do I need to send paper copies to the IRS?

    • Vonda

      Hi Consuelo, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Business Services Online for W-2 instructions.

  3. Carol

    Business Services doesn’t have the way to file the W-2 either. Maybe you should put it back where it was last year and let us get our w-2’s done.

    • Vonda

      Hi Carol, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Business Services Online which provides W-2 filing instructions and information. We hope this helps!

  4. DANIEL D.

    How does employer create W-2 and W-3s online? Where is the darn “Create W-2” button? Step by step please.

    • Vonda

      Hi Daniel, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Business Services web page for employer W-2 filing guidelines. We hope this is helpful!

      • Dan C.

        Not helpful at all. There’s no simple button for “File W-2, W-3 Online” without going through a maze of sites. UGH!!! Still can’t find it.

  5. Michael M.

    I need simple help filling out W2 forms FOR MY TWO EMPLOYEES – I don’t understand columns 3, 5, 7 nor 8.

    Also – is column 16 the same as column 1? Why would state wages, tips, etc. differ from wages, tips, other compensation in column 1?

    • Vonda

      Hi Michael, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Business Services web page which provides employer W-2 filing guidance. We hope this helps!

  6. Maria

    I forgot how to fill out our W2’s for our employees on line . Where do I go to do that? Thanks !

    • Vonda

      Hi Maria, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Business Services web page for employer W-2 filing information. We hope this helps!

  7. Dan

    With the corona virus, are there any approval delays? I’m having a hard time getting a response to get my business registered from here: https://www.tripleiconsulting.com/business-registration/

  8. abdalla n.

    how can i get my w2 online

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Abdalla, thanks for your question. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for information on how to obtain a copy of your W-2. We hope this helps!

  9. George P.

    I read this article on filling out a W2 or in my case a W2C and no link is provided in the appropriate section of the article for actually downloading and beginning the process of filling in the W2 or W2 C .

  10. Yefim Z.

    My question; I need copy of w 2 form to pay property tax for 2019.

Comments are closed.