What type of document is Form W-2?

Form W-2 is a federal income tax document that employers are required to provide to their employees. This form reports an employee's annual wages and the amount of taxes withheld from their paychecks throughout the year. The W-2 includes crucial information such as the total earnings of the employee, Social Security wages, Medicare wages, and various tax withholdings, which are essential for employees to accurately file their income tax returns with the IRS.

While other documents serve different purposes—like payroll deduction forms that deal specifically with benefits or other withholdings, or financial aid applications that help determine eligibility for assistance—the primary function of the W-2 focuses on income reporting and tax compliance for individuals in their roles as employees. This makes it pivotal during tax filing season, as employees use the information on their W-2 to both report income and calculate potential tax refunds or liabilities.