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For more information, download IRS W-2 Instructions.
All contributions made by members after December 31, 1983, to TMRS are tax-deferred under Section 414(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. This means employees pay federal income tax on their gross earnings minus the amount contributed to TMRS.
Example:
Jane Brown earns $1,000 per month in a TMRS member city with a 5% employee contribution rate. Jane would pay $50 each month to TMRS; however, her income tax withholding would be calculated on a salary of $950. At the end of the calendar year, Jane's taxable earnings, as reported on the W-2 form, would be $11,400 ($950 X 12) instead of the $12,000 she actually earned.
Federal income taxes are deferred on employee contributions to TMRS until the time they are paid to the member, either in the form of a monthly retirement benefit or a refund of deposits, unless the refund is a "rollover" to another tax-exempt retirement option, such as an IRA.
Preparing W-2s:
Below are answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions. (The examples refer to boxes as numbered on the 2004 W-2).
1. What amount should be provided in Box 1 (wages, tips, other compensation), Box 3 (Social Security wages), and Box 5 (Medicare wages)?
Box 1 should be gross wages less TMRS employee contributions.
Box 3 should be gross wages, not reduced by TMRS employee contributions.
Box 5 should be the same as Box 3, gross wages, not reduced by TMRS employee contributions.
TMRS employee contributions are subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. (Of course, employees who do not participate in Social Security or Medicare will not be subject to Social Security or Medicare taxes.)
2. What needs to be marked in Box 13 to indicate the TMRS plan?
Mark the "Retirement Plan" box to show an employee is a member in TMRS.
3. What are the IRS section numbers for the TMRS plan, and do the TMRS employee contributions go in Box 12?
TMRS is a qualified plan under Section 401(a). In addition, the employee's TMRS contributions are "picked up" in accordance with Section 414(h)(2), and are not to be reported in Box 12. You can choose to list TMRS employee contributions in Box 14 for information purposes only, but it is not required.
See page 8 (Box 12-Codes) of the IRS W-2 Instructions (for 2004). |