Finatune
← Back to Glossary

W-2 Employee

Quick Answer

A W-2 employee is a worker employed by a company who receives a W-2 tax form reporting wages, tips, and taxes withheld during the year.

Definition

A W-2 employee is a worker employed by a company who receives a W-2 tax form reporting wages, tips, and taxes withheld during the year.

Explanation

W-2 employees have taxes withheld from each paycheck by their employer, including income tax, Social Security, and Medicare. They receive a W-2 form each January summarizing their annual earnings and withholdings. Employers pay half of Social Security and Medicare taxes.

Benefits of W-2 employment include employer-paid taxes, eligible for unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, and often health insurance and retirement benefits.

Example

A W-2 employee earning $50,000 has about $3,825 withheld for Social Security and $1,175 for Medicare, plus income tax based on their W-4 elections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is W-2 Employee?

A W-2 employee is a worker employed by a company who receives a W-2 tax form reporting wages, tips, and taxes withheld during the year.

How does W-2 Employee work?

W-2 employees have taxes withheld from each paycheck by their employer, including income tax, Social Security, and Medicare. They receive a W-2 form each January summarizing their annual earnings and withholdings. Employers pay half of Social Security and Medicare taxes.Benefits of W-2 employment include employer-paid taxes, eligible for unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, and often health insurance and retirement benefits.

Can you give an example of W-2 Employee?

A W-2 employee earning $50,000 has about $3,825 withheld for Social Security and $1,175 for Medicare, plus income tax based on their W-4 elections.

Free Excel Templates

Also try our free Freelance Invoice Template template

Professional invoice template for freelancers. Create invoices with automatic calculations, payment terms, and professional branding.

Download Freelance Invoice Template

Also try our free Budget Planner template

Create and manage your monthly budget with the 50/30/20 rule. Track income, expenses, and savings in one place.

Download Budget Planner

Related Calculators

β†’ Salary to Hourly

Related Terms

→ Gross Salary→ Net Income→ Hourly Rate
← Previous: Solvency
Next: Self-Employment Tax β†’

Information provided for educational purposes. Always consult a qualified financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.