Draft 2026 Form W-2

Key Changes on the Draft Form

The draft 2026 Form W-2, also known as the Wage and Tax Statement, introduces two new reporting fields:

Box 14b: Labeled “Treasury tipped occupation code,” this new box requires employers to report a specific code for tipped occupations. This code is to be used by employees when claiming the deduction for qualified tips on a separate tax form (Schedule 1-A, Form 1040). The IRS is expected to provide a list of eligible occupations by October 2nd.
Box 12: This box, which reports various types of compensation, will now include two new codes:
- Code TP will report the total amount of qualified tips.
- Code TT will report the total amount of qualified overtime compensation.

These changes are significant because the deductions for qualified tips and overtime are available through the 2028 tax year.

What This Means for 2025

While the new Form W-2 design is for 2026, the tax deductions from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are already in effect for the 2025 tax year. The IRS previously stated that it would not be updating the 2025 forms to include these changes. Instead, it will provide transition relief for both taxpayers claiming the deduction and employers who must meet the new reporting requirements. This means taxpayers will not use the new boxes and codes on their 2025 tax forms, but the IRS will offer separate guidance on how to report these amounts.