Although it is possible to prepare a preliminary tax return based on your final pay stub for the year, your pay stub is not the official IRS-recognized document for your income. Taxpayers should not use their final pay stub, a similar substitute form, or Form 4852 Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, or Form 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc. to file their income tax return prior to the receipt of an employer-provided Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement.

The amount of gross wages showing on the final pay stub may not match what your employer will enter in Form W-2, Box 1 Wages, tips, other compensation due to any of the following reasons:

• Tax deferred contributions (i.e. 401k, 403b, etc.)
• Pre-tax health, dental or vision insurance premiums
• Dependent care or medical reimbursement account deductions made from your pay during the year
• Premium amounts for the value of group life insurance coverage in excess of $50,000
• Various other taxable benefits that the employer must add to the final W-2 Form

If you receive a Form W-2 or Form W-2C Corrected Wage and Tax Statement after your return is filed, and the information differs from that reported on your return, you must amend your return by filing Form 1040-X Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

Note that any link in the information above is updated each year automatically and will take you to the most recent version of the document at the time it is accessed.