What does Form W-2 report?

Form W-2 is a crucial document in the payroll process as it provides a summary of an employee's annual wages and the taxes withheld from those wages throughout the year. This form is prepared by the employer and is required to be filed with the IRS, as well as provided to the employee, typically by January 31 of the following year.

The primary purpose of the W-2 is to report to both the employee and the IRS the total amount of wages earned, as well as the amounts withheld for federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare taxes. Thus, it plays a vital role in an employee's tax reporting, allowing them to accurately complete their income tax returns.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the purpose of the W-2. For instance, the verification of employment is typically not documented on a W-2 form. Similarly, the status of a Federal ID application or details regarding pension payment withholdings are not reported on this form. The W-2 focuses strictly on the report of wages and tax withholdings for the year worked.