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Because the SSN is the "primary key" for pretty much all interactions with the taxing authorities. That's why it's called a "Taxpayer Identification Number" and

by CPLX 11y ago

Because the SSN is the "primary key" for pretty much all interactions with the taxing authorities. That's why it's called a "Taxpayer Identification Number" and so on. Sure it's a sensitive piece of info, at least to some extent, but it's not some highly classified secret. Putting it on tax forms is sort of the point.

tzs 11y ago
Right, which is why it needs to be on everything I send to the IRS, or that my employer (or their agents such as payroll companies) send to the IRS concerning me. But I don't see why it needs to be on things my employer (or their agents) send to me. Sure, SSN is not some highly classified secret, and it is on enough things it does not need to be on that having it on W-2 probably doesn't noticeably cause any extra harm. I'm just curious if it actually needs to be there. If I'm doing my tax return on paper instead of electronically, and need to physically attach a copy of my W-2, I can fill in the SSN field, just like I filed in the SSN field on the top of the 1040. Having the SSN on the form then, when it goes to the IRS makes sense so that they can match it up to the 1040 if it becomes separated from it accidentally [1]. If I'm doing my tax return electronically, the IRS uses the W-2 information they get from my employer (or its agents) electronically. The paper W-2 is really just to let me know the pay and withholding numbers so I can fill out my returns. [1] Well, maybe not. It did back in the days when they actually looked at the physical W-2, but now I believe they get an electronic copy even if the taxpayer is not filing electronically, and so I don't think they look at the attached W-2. In fact, I vaguely recall the last time I filed a paper return being told not to attach my W-2, although I'm not certain of that.
- hundt 11y ago
  One reason could be so that you could verify that your information was sent to the IRS with the correct SSN.
- CPLX 11y ago
  I'm not sure that entirely makes sense. This presupposes that your name and salary information is somehow less sensitive information than your SSN, and ignores the fact that essentially the entire point of the form existing at all is to document the statement "Please match SSN [X] with income [Y]" and removing one of those two pieces of data defeats that purpose.

by CPLX 11y ago

tzs 11y ago

Right, which is why it needs to be on everything I send to the IRS, or that my employer (or their agents such as payroll companies) send to the IRS concerning me. But I don't see why it needs to be on things my employer (or their agents) send to me. Sure, SSN is not some highly classified secret, and it is on enough things it does not need to be on that having it on W-2 probably doesn't noticeably cause any extra harm. I'm just curious if it actually needs to be there. If I'm doing my tax return on paper instead of electronically, and need to physically attach a copy of my W-2, I can fill in the SSN field, just like I filed in the SSN field on the top of the 1040. Having the SSN on the form then, when it goes to the IRS makes sense so that they can match it up to the 1040 if it becomes separated from it accidentally [1]. If I'm doing my tax return electronically, the IRS uses the W-2 information they get from my employer (or its agents) electronically. The paper W-2 is really just to let me know the pay and withholding numbers so I can fill out my returns. [1] Well, maybe not. It did back in the days when they actually looked at the physical W-2, but now I believe they get an electronic copy even if the taxpayer is not filing electronically, and so I don't think they look at the attached W-2. In fact, I vaguely recall the last time I filed a paper return being told not to attach my W-2, although I'm not certain of that.

hundt 11y ago
One reason could be so that you could verify that your information was sent to the IRS with the correct SSN.
CPLX 11y ago
I'm not sure that entirely makes sense. This presupposes that your name and salary information is somehow less sensitive information than your SSN, and ignores the fact that essentially the entire point of the form existing at all is to document the statement "Please match SSN [X] with income [Y]" and removing one of those two pieces of data defeats that purpose.