Information included on Stanford’s W-2 Wage and Tax Form is detailed on this page.
Box 1: Wages, Tips, Other Compensation
- Pre-tax benefit deductions (health insurance, dental, vision, etc.), pre-tax parking deductions and pre-tax retirement deductions are subtracted from your gross wages to arrive at the taxable wages reported in Box 1.
Box 2: Federal Income Tax Withheld
- For the total federal income tax withheld, refer to Payroll Tax Deduction code Fed Withholding on the Pay Statement.
- The amount withheld is based on the withholding status and number of withholding allowances claimed on the Federal W-4 Declaration.
- For help changing withholding allowances, refer to How to: Declare or Change Income Tax Withholding Allowances.
Box 3: Social Security Wages
- Pre-tax benefit deductions and pre-tax parking deductions are subtracted from your gross wages to arrive at the taxable wages reported in Box 3.
- A maximum of $168,600.00 of wages, the 2024 Social Security wage base, are reported in Box 3.
Box 4: Social Security Tax Withheld
- For total social security tax withheld, refer to the Payroll Tax Deduction code Fed OASDI/EE on the Pay Statement.
- Tax rate: 6.2%
Box 5: Medicare Wages and Tips
- Pre-tax benefit deductions and pre-tax parking deductions are subtracted from your gross wages to arrive at the taxable wages reported in Box 5.
Box 6: Medicare Tax Withheld
- Total Medicare tax withheld. Reference Payroll tax deduction code Fed MED/EE on your Pay Statement.
- Tax rate: 1.45%
- Total Additional Medicare tax withheld. Reference Payroll tax deduction code Fed Addl Med on your Pay Statement
- Tax rate: 0.9% on earnings in excess of $200,000
Box 7: Social Security Tips
- N/A
Box 8: Allocated Tips
- N/A
Box 9: Advance EIC Payment
- N/A
Box 10: Dependent Care Benefits
- Total pre-tax dependent care spending account contributions deducted from your pay or contributions made by Stanford on your behalf.
Box 11: Nonqualified Plans
- N/A
Box 12, Code E:
- Elective pre-tax employee contributions to 403(b) salary reduction agreement (i.e. retirement plan).
Box 12, Code DD:
- Cost of employer-sponsored health coverage. The amount reported with Code DD is not taxable.
Box 12, Code G:
- Elective pre-tax employee contributions to a supplemental retirement account (SRA) Deferred Compensation Program (457(b) plan).
Box 12, Code T:
- Adoption assistance program reimbursements.
Box 12, Code W:
- Total pre-tax health savings account (HSA) contributions deducted from your pay or contributions made by Stanford on your behalf.
- HSA amounts are included in California wages reported in Box 16, but are excluded from Federal and FICA wages in Box 1, Box 3 and Box 5.
Box 13: Retirement Plan
- Retirement Plan box will be checked if you contributed to a retirement plan and/or Stanford contributed on your behalf.
Box 14: VPDI
- California Voluntary Plan for Disability Insurance.
- Refer to Payroll tax deduction code CA Vol Dis/EE on your Pay Statement.
Box 14: DOM
- Benefit contributions for a qualified domestic partner.
- DOM amounts are included in federal wages reported in Box 1, Box 3 and Box 5, but are excluded from California wages reported in Box 16.
Box 15: State and Employer's State ID Number
- State of employment and Stanford’s State ID Number
Box 16: State Wages, Tips, etc.
- Pre-tax benefit deductions, pre-tax parking deductions and pre-tax retirement deductions are subtracted from your gross wages to arrive at the taxable wages reported in Box 16.
Box 17: State Income Tax
- Total state income tax withheld
- Refer to Payroll tax deduction code CA Withholding on your Pay Statement.
- Amount is based on the withholding status and the number of withholding allowances claimed on your California State DE-4 Declaration.
- For help changing your elections, see How to: Declare Federal and State Income Tax Withholding (W-4/DE-4) via Stanford Axess.
Box 18: Local Wages, Tips, etc.
- N/A
Box 19: Local Income Tax
- N/A
Box 20: Locality Name
- N/A
