W-2
The annual form your employer sends showing your wages and the taxes withheld. It is the official record of your earned income for the year.
By Findley's Finance · Last reviewed: September 2026
Why it matters
The W-2 is why regular employees rarely think about taxes until April: income tax and Social Security were already withheld from every paycheck. It also documents "earned income," which is the gate for things like IRA contributions — no W-2 or self-employment income, no contribution. Keep them; lenders and the IRS both treat them as proof of income.