If additional items are listed in box 12a-12d of Form W-2, click the list box and select the letter code that is listed on the left hand side of the box. The letters represent the following according to the IRS Form W-2 instructions.
For tax year 2021, California did not increase the limit on Box 12. An increase on Schedule CA for California filers may be observed.
Below is a list of the items and the corresponding section of the tax return impacted by an entry for the item:
| A | Uncollected social security or RRTA tax on tips (Additional tax on Form 1040, Other Taxes section) |
| B | Uncollected medicare tax on tips (Additional tax on Form 1040, Other Taxes section) |
| C | Cost of group-term life insurance of $50,000 (None) |
| D | Elective deferrals to a 401(k) plan * |
| E | Elective deferrals to a 403(b) plan * |
| F | Elective deferrals to a 408(k)(6) plan * |
| G | Elective deferrals to a 457(b) plan * |
| H | Elective deferrals to a 501(c)(18)(D) plan (Adjustment to income) * |
| J | Nontaxable sick pay (None) |
| K | 20% tax on golden parachute payments (Additional tax on Form 1040, Other Taxes section) |
| L | Substantiated employee business expense reimbursements (Form 2106 as employee business expense reimbursement) |
| M | Uncollected social security or RRTA tax on group-term life insurance (Additional tax on From 1040, Other Taxes section) |
| N | Uncollected medicare tax on group-term life insurance over $50,000 (Additional tax on Form 1040, Other Taxes section) |
| P | Excludable moving expense reimbursements (Form 3903 as moving expense reimbursement) |
| Q | Non-taxable combat pay ** |
| R | Company contributions to medical savings account (MSA) (Form 8853 as company contributions to an Archer MSA) |
| S | Salary reduction contribution under section 408(p) SIMPLE Plan * |
| T | Adoption benefits (Form 8839, page 2 as employer-provided adoptions benefits) |
| V | Income from exercise of non-statutory stock options (None) |
| W | Company contributions to health savings account (HSA) (Form 8889) |
| Y | Deferrals under a section 409a nonqualified deferred compensation plan |
| Z | Income under section 409a on a nonqualified deferred compensation plan (Additional tax on Form 1040, Other Taxes section) |
| AA | Designated Roth contributions to a section 401(k) plan * |
| BB | Designated Roth contributions to a section 403(b) * |
| DD | Total cost of what employee and employer paid for an employer-sponsored health coverage plan. |
| EE | Designated Roth contributions to a gov. 457(b) plan |
| FF | Permitted benefits under a qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement |
| GG | Income from qualified equity grants under section 83(i). |
| HH | Aggregate deferrals under section 83(i) elections as of the close of the calendar year. |
* Elective deferrals to retirement plans are included on Form 8880, line 2. The taxpayer and /or the spouse, if MFJ, may be able to claim the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit if elective deferral, voluntary employee, or IRA contributions were made and AGI is $52,000 or less (if MFJ), $39,000 or less (if HOH) and $26,000 or less (if single, MFS or QW).
** Code Q is an informational code stating the amount of nontaxable combat pay already excluded from the wages reported in Box 1.
- For members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in a combat zone, nontaxable combat pay is always included in earned income for Form 2441, lines 4 and 5 and Form 8812, line 4a. The amount also prints on Form 8812, line 4b.
- The taxpayer must elect to include nontaxable combat pay in earned income for the EIC and Form 2441, lines 20 and 21.
- Select the box (or enter 1) in Elect to include nontaxable combat pay in earned income for EIC (code 59) or Elect to include nontaxable combat pay in earned income for 2441(DCB) (code 60).
