IRS Releases Form W-2 for TY 2025: Prepare Now for Changes

With tax year 2024 Forms W-2 out the door, it’s time to turn your attention toward the changes IRS has made for TY 2025 forms.

The IRS released final versions of Form W-2 and Form W-3 for 2025 on January 7, 2025.

While the IRS didn’t make any major changes to the forms, it did revise the “Instructions for Employee” section of Form W-2 — specifically, the information on box 12 that covers catch-up contributions.

The instructions now explain that higher contribution limits apply to employees who are 60, 61, 62 or 63 as of December 31, 2025. This was a provision of the Secure 2.0 Act.

Meanwhile, the instructions no longer include information on the so-called pre-retirement catch-up that pertains to 457(b) plans.

Code F, one of box 12 codes, clarifies that elective deferrals under a Sec. 408(k)(6) salary reduction simplified employee pension (SEP) plan also means elective deferrals made to a Roth SEP individual retirement account.

IRS Instructions on Form W-2

The IRS also issued an early release draft of General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3 for 2025.

In this version of the instructions, which came out January 14, 2025, the IRS explained its new procedures for requesting extra time to furnish copies of the W-2 to employees.

You’d complete Form 15397, Application for Extension of Time to Furnish Recipient Statements, and submit it using the fax number on the back. The extension applies to Copies 2, B and C of Form W-2.

Here’s another item listed in the “What’s New” section of the early release draft of the instructions: The IRS has added a new OMB number for the following forms: W-2, W-2AS, W-2GU, W-2VI, W-3, W-3SS, W-2c and W-3c.

It’s OMB No. 1545-0029.

In the “Reminders” section of the instructions, the IRS states that the due date for filing 2025 Forms W-2 with the SSA is February 2, 2026.

That deadline applies whether you’re filing on paper or electronically.