# its tax time and i have questions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tax-time-and-i-have-questions/444697>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 10, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tax-time-and-i-have-questions/444697 "2008-04-10T00:11:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SweetHomeColorado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@SweetHomeColorado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetHomeColorado)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tax-time-and-i-have-questions/444697/1 "2008-04-10T00:11:54Z")

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I’m filing my taxes and have a pretty basic question:  
Do I need to supply a copy of my W2 form along with my tax return or will the return itself suffice?

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tax-time-and-i-have-questions/444697/2 "2008-04-10T00:19:41Z")

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You need to attach a W2 copy to your federal return and your state return if your state has income taxes. Most employers send you at least three copies for this purpose – otherwise it’s off to the Xerox machine.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tax-time-and-i-have-questions/444697/3 "2008-04-10T01:55:38Z")

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These days, your W2 is usually divided into section. You tear off the section for the Federal return (it says so on it) and return it. Same for the state return (except in New York, where you have to enter the information onto a special tax form for the state). :rolleyes:

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**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tax-time-and-i-have-questions/444697/4 "2008-04-10T02:45:28Z")

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If you efile, you don’t have to send them anything. If you send in paper returns, then you will have to attach a W-2 OR fill out a substitute W-2 form. That should really only be used if you cannot obtain a W-2 by normal means, though.

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**Author:** ![Gus\_Gusterson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-tax-time-and-i-have-questions/444697/5 "2008-04-10T13:49:45Z")

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[QUOTE=SweetHomeColorado]  
I’m filing my taxes and have a pretty basic question:  
Do I need to supply a copy of my W2 form along with my tax return or will the return itself suffice?  
[/QUOTE]  
This question suggests that you aren’t reading the instructions that go along with the tax form. The instructions answer basic questions like this. You should read the instructions. They are available at [irs.gov](http://irs.gov) if you don’t have them.