# Dumb US Tax question; how do I "attach" my W-2? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 29, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061 "2003-03-29T19:56:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/1 "2003-03-29T19:56:31Z")
I cannot seem to find an explanation in my IRS booklet of how I am supposed to attach my W-2 to my tax return. Staple? Tape? A booger? What do they want me to use? And it says to attach it “here” in the income section; does that mean it will be stapled/taped such that it basically covers that whole section? I assume I only attach it at one end, so they can flip it open like a page and read what’s underneath. Every year I have to ask somebody this… I’ve been filing for over 10 years and iInever remember how I do this or if it matters… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/2 "2003-03-29T20:04:07Z")
I always just staple it. But considering the destination, a booger might not be such a bad idea. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/3 "2003-03-29T20:04:29Z")
I always use tape. I learned this from my mother. If you can’t trust my mother, who can you trust? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/4 "2003-03-29T20:09:21Z")
Thanks folks. Sounds like it doesn’t matter too much. Another probably dumb question: The return ends up being 3 full pages, plus the W-2 that’s 1/5 a page. Will a single 37 cent stamp cover this? Should I put 2 on to be sure? (I don’t mail things much, everybody I know has email) ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/5 "2003-03-29T20:12:51Z")
With an income tax return, it’s best to err on the side of caution and use a lot of stamps. I will likely mail it from the Post Office anyway and have them weigh it for me. I’ve got a mother of a return this year. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@PatrickM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickM)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/6 "2003-03-29T21:17:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*Thanks folks. Sounds like it doesn’t matter too much. > > Another probably dumb question: The return ends up being 3 full pages, plus the W-2 that’s 1/5 a page. > > Will a single 37 cent stamp cover this? Should I put 2 on to be sure? (I don’t mail things much, everybody I know has email) \*\* My general rule is that one first class stamp is sufficient postage for 4 pages, but with a tax return, it’s better to mail the damn thing certified mail anyway. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/7 "2003-03-30T00:56:23Z")
I have 3 W-2s and I’m filing a 1040-EZ, so I only have this one side of one page document to file and three things to attach to it. How should I do it? ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/8 "2003-03-30T01:07:14Z")
If I have multiple income statements (I had three this year), I attach them based on size, largest to smallest. All are facing up, with the W-2s/1099s on top of the tax form ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/9 "2003-03-30T01:07:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racinchikki \* > \*\*I have 3 W-2s and I’m filing a 1040-EZ, so I only have this one side of one page document to file and three things to attach to it. How should I do it? \*\* Stack your W-2’s on top of each other and staple them to the 1040-EZ form (on the front side). ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/10 "2003-03-30T01:32:57Z")
Staple it. Last few years, I’ve filed electronically, actually, which is less hassle. If you qualify, you might even be able to do it for free. I DO find it annoying that they normally charge a fee for efiling. It has to be less cost to them than handling a paper return. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/11 "2003-03-30T01:34:39Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/12 "2003-03-30T01:51:50Z")
Geez - you folks ever hear of e-file? No stamps required, no W-2s to "attach and you get your refund in 10 business days or less. Plus, the cost is deductible! ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/13 "2003-03-30T14:20:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rex Fenestrarum \* > \*\*Plus, the cost is deductible! \*\* Well, not really. As a “miscellaneous deduction,” tax preparation fees are only deductible to the extent that they exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income, which is usually a pretty high bar to clear. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/14 "2003-03-30T14:27:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lsura \* > \*\*If I have multiple income statements (I had three this year), I attach them based on size, largest to smallest. All are facing up, with the W-2s/1099s on top of the tax form \*\* I’ve encountered a lot of folks who send all of their 1099 forms along with their returns. The IRS _doesn’t want you to attach most 1099s_, like the ones you get reporting interest from your bank account, your brokerage account, etc. The only version of the 1099 that you _should_ attach is the 1099-R, which reports pension payments from plans other than Social Security (they don’t want the 1099 the Social Security folks send you, either!), and even then, they only want the 1099-R if some taxes were withheld from those payments. Simple rule: if they don’t ask for it, don’t send it. If they have some questions about your return later, they’ll write and ask for clarification. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/15 "2003-03-30T15:10:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rex Fenestrarum \* > \*\*Geez - you folks ever hear of e-file? No stamps required, no W-2s to "attach and you get your refund in 10 business days or less. Plus, the cost is deductible! \*\* Nevertheless, the savings from the deduction (if it even applies) is still much less than the cost of the e-file. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/16 "2003-03-30T15:38:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Early Out \* > \*\*The only version of the 1099 that you _should_ attach is the 1099-R, which reports pension payments from plans other than Social Security (they don’t want the 1099 the Social Security folks send you, either!), and even then, they only want the 1099-R if some taxes were withheld from those payments. > \*\* Yeah, I did have a 1099-R this year and I remember checking closely to make sure I was supposed to send it. I just didn’t remember when I was making my post. Thanks for the correction - I wouldn’t want someone to send the wrong stuff in based on my post! ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-us-tax-question-how-do-i-attach-my-w-2/165061/17 "2003-03-30T17:02:53Z")
E-File… The only way to go. Nothing to attach, period. Easy, swift and if you have a refund coming, it comes fast.