Organization Information

Finance

2008 Tax Information: Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement

Current Mailing Address

To facilitate processing of 2008 tax information and to ensure correct and timely receipt of a 2008 Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, all employees must have a current mailing address on file.

If you need to change your current mailing address, you have a number of options. In order of preference:

Address Change Information for Current Employees

The following options are available for employees to change their mailing address on record:

1. By mail, send PS Form 1216, Employee’s Current Mailing Address, to:

HRSSC Compensation and Benefits
P.O. Box 970400
Greensboro, NC 27497-0400

2. By telephone, call HRSSC at 877-477-3273, option 5; validate your identity with your employee identification number (EIN) or Postal Service™ PIN, then option 9; to speak to a service representative who will assist you.

3. All postal employees can change their mailing and residential addresses using the Personnel Computer Kiosks located in large processing and distribution centers and post offices. A tab titled Present Job Info/Change of Address appears on the main Kiosk Web page.

4. For employees with PC access, use the Blue Page (Postal Service Internal Web Page) to change your address:

n Select Log On from the upper left of the Blue Page.

n Log on with your ACE ID and Password.

n Ensure the welcome screen has your name on it (upper left corner).

n Select the tab labeled My Life. Under this tab, on the right side of the page is the heading My Profile, where you will find two links titled Address/Phone and Emergency Contact. Select Address/Phone.

n Select the Mailing Address type form the dropdown and click the Edit button.

n Make the desired changes and click Save.

Note: Employee Self-Service is no longer an option to change employee’s address.

General W-2 Information

If an employee has earnings for more than one state or locality, a separate Form W-2 will be issued for each. The format of the 2008 Form W-2 has not been modified from the 2007 version.

All box numbers will remain the same from 2008 (see pages 23).

Inquiries

All inquiries concerning payroll items, such as Employee Business Expense, Equipment Maintenance, Rent, T-Cola, money differences between earnings statement and W-2, (See Reconciliation Formula on Form W-2) leave buy backs, erro­neous state or local tax deductions, TSP, FSA, etc., should be directed to the Accounting Help Desk at 866-974-2733.

Callers should be ready to provide the following information:

1. Employee’s name.

2. Current mailing address.

3. Social Security number.

4. Name of office where employed (or previously employed if not a current Postal Service employee).

5. Year(s) involved.

6. Specific question.

w2 front2008 W2 and Earnings Statement, front page.

w2 back2008 W2 and Earnings Statement, back page.

OR

Submit questions regarding W-2’s in writing. The request must include:

1. Employee’s name.

2. Current mailing address.

3. Social Security number.

4. Name of office where employed (or where previously employed if not a current Postal Service employee).

5. Year(s) involved.

6. Specific question.

7. Employee’s signature.

 

If the first three digits of your Social Security number are…

A written request should be sent to…

000–214

Attn: Payroll Adjustments W-2

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9631

215–354

Attn: Payroll Adjustments W-2

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9633

355–499

Attn: Payroll Adjustments W-2

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9634

500 and up

Attn: Payroll Adjustments W-2

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9636

General Questions

Imputed Income Life Insurance

The Imputed Income Life Insurance amount shown in Box 35 of the 2008 W-2 form is the net result of the IRS computation for taxable insurance benefits less the amount an employee pays for optional insurance in the calendar year.

The IRS requires the Postal Service to report as income the cost of Group Term Life Insurance in excess of $50,000, which is paid by the employer. The formula is based on an employee’s age, salary and life insurance coverage.

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)

The following facts will clarify some of the common tax questions regarding TSP:

a. Box 12a or 12b (see Instructions for box 12) may contain employee TSP contributions including TSP catch up.

b. TSP contributions are reported in Box 12a or 12b with a code “D”. Letter code “D” is explained on the reverse side of Form W-2 “Notice to Employee”.

c. Box 1, Wages, tips, other compensation, has been reduced by the amount of the employee’s TSP contributions shown in Box 12a or 12b.

d. Box 16, State wages, tips, etc., has been reduced by the amount of employee TSP contributions in Box 12a or 12b for all states, except New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico.

e. New York City, NY, Kansas City, MO, Detroit, MI, St. Louis, MO, and Madison County, KY, are the only localities, which allow income deferral for TSP. Box 18, Local wages, tips, etc., will be reduced by the amount of employee TSP contri­butions only if New York City, NY, Kansas City, MO, Detroit, MI, St. Louis, MO, or Madison County, KY, is indicated in Box 20, Locality name.

Employee Business Expense (EBE)

Equipment Maintenance Allowance (EMA), Carrier Drive-Out, Vehicle Hire, Supervisor Vehicle Usage, and Special Delivery are all considered employee expenses. Box 32, Employee business expense, will contain the non-taxable (not the total) EBE amount, while Box 33, Taxable Employee business expense, will contain the taxable EBE amount. The taxable amount shown in Box 33 will also be included in Box 1, Wages, tips, other compensation.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

The amount contributed to an employee’s Flexible Spending Account for health care will be included in Box 40 FSA Health Care and the amount contributed to dependent care will be included in Box 10, FSA Dependent Care Benefits. Both have been deducted from Box 1, Wages, tips, other compensation.

Health Benefit Pre-Tax

The amount contributed for Health Benefit premiums are considered pre-tax unless the employee declined the pre-tax benefit. The Health Benefit pre-tax amount is shown in Box 37, and has been deducted from Box 1, Wages, tips, other compensation.

FEDVIP

The amount contributed for Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) are considered pre-tax unless the employee declined the pre-tax amount is shown in Box 42, and has been deducted from Box 1, Wages, tips, other compensation.

Commuter Program

The amount contributed for the Commuter Program Box 41 is considered pre-tax for 2008 up to the IRS $115 monthly limit for public transportation and/or the IRS $220 monthly limit for parking and has been deducted from Box 1, Wages, tips, other compensation. Effective January 1, 2009, the parking pre-tax spending limit will increase from $220 to $230 and the public transportation limit will increase from $115 to $120. This increase can affect the deductions for November 2008, which is for the January 2009 benefit month. Any commuting expenses that are elected over the IRS limits will be considered post–tax.

State/Terr. Gross Wages

The amount in Box 16, State wages, tips, etc. will equal Box 1 with the following exceptions:

Mississippi does not allow income deferral for pre-tax commuter program public transportation and parking.

New Jersey and Puerto Rico do not allow income deferral. Therefore, the employee TSP, FSA, FEDVIP, Commuter Pro­gram pre-tax contributions and HB pre-tax contributions are not deducted from their State Gross.

Pennsylvania is the only state that does not require the Imputed Income Life Insurance to be added into the State Gross. Also, Pennsylvania does not allow income deferral for TSP, FSA Dependant Care, and Commuter Program pre–tax contributions.

Annuity Protection Program (APP)

Form W-2s are issued to former employees who receive payments from the Postal Service under the Annuity Protection Program. Any questions regarding these Form W-2s should be directed to:

Payroll Benefits Branch

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9621

Relocation Payments

Relocation wages are reported in Box 39 (Relocation gross) on the Form W-2.

Relocation gross is reduced by the excludable reportable amount reported in Box 12a or 12b before it is added to Box 1 (Wages, tips, other compensation).

Excludable reportable wages are reported in Box 12a or 12b with a code “P”. Letter code “P” is explained on the reverse side of Form W-2 “Notice to Employee”.

Obtaining Duplicate Forms

PostalEASE

Employees may use PostalEASE “W-2 Re-print” for information viewing and/or printing. You may request any of the prior 15 years including current year to be reprinted on an official document and mailed.

The W-2 re-print process is performed weekly and will be available for use at the beginning of February 2009. During the months of March and April, the W-2 re-print process is scheduled to execute daily. During Pay Periods 01-03 (approximately mid-December through end of January), the W-2 request for mailing process will not be available. However, viewing of cur­rent information is available online.

Eagan Accounting Services Help Desk

To obtain duplicate forms, employees may also call the Accounting Help Desk (866-974-2733).

All requests must include:

1. Employee’s name.

2. Current mailing address.

3. Social Security number.

4. Name of office where employed (or where previously employed if not a current Postal Service employee).

5. Year(s) requested.

 

If you are requesting a duplicate Form W-2 for wages, relocation, or annuity protection program or APP…

Call…

1994 to the present

Accounting Help Desk (1-866-974-2733)*

* If unsuccessful requesting duplicate W-2s from the Accounting Help Desk or Employee Self Service, duplicates can also be requested in writing from: Financial Reporting Section (W-2s), Eagan Accounting Services, 2825 Lone Oak Parkway, Eagan, MN 55121-9617. Requests must include the employee’s signature.

Form W-2c, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement

1. General W-2c Information

Form W-2c is used by the Postal Service to correct errors previously filed on a Form W-2. The Form W-2c will only report the corrections and should be used in conjunction with the original Form W-2 issued when filing taxes and/or other related information.

2. Requesting a W-2c

All requests for a corrected W-2c must be submitted in writing. The request must include:

1. Employee’s name.

2. Current mailing address.

3. Social Security number.

4. Name of office where employed (or where previously employed if not a current Postal Service employee).

5. Year(s) requested.

6. Reason for request.

7. Employee’s signature.

 

If you disagree with the tax information provided and are requesting that the tax statement issued be reviewed and corrected if wrong for…

Then submit a written request to…

Wages

(1994 to the present)

For employees with social security numbers beginning with 000–214:

Attn: Payroll Adjustments W-2

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9631

For employees with Social Security numbers beginning with 215–354:

Attn: Payroll Adjustments W-2

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9633

For employees with Social Security numbers

beginning with 355–499:

Attn: Payroll Adjustments W-2

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9634

For employees with Social Security numbers beginning with 500 and up:

Attn: Payroll Adjustments W-2

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9636

Relocation

San Mateo Accounting Services

Relocation Management Section

2700 Campus Drive

San Mateo, CA 94097-9420

Annuity Protection Program

Payroll Benefits Branch

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9621

3. Obtaining Duplicate W-2c Forms

All requests for a duplicate W-2c must be submitted in writing. The request must include:

1. Employee’s name.

2. Current mailing address.

3. Social Security number.

4. Name of office where employed (or where previously employed if not a current Postal Service employee).

5. Year(s) request.

6. Employee’s signature.

 

If you are requesting a duplicate…

Then submit a written request to…

W-2c (1994 to the present)

Financial Reporting Section (W-2c)

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9617

IRS Form 1099

Depending on your specific circumstances, up to three different IRS Form 1099’s may be issued to you. They are:

n IRS Form 1099MISC, Statement for Recipients of Miscellaneous Income.

n IRS Form 1099R, Distributions from Pensions, Annuities, Retirement, or Profit Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc.

n IRS Form 1099INT, Interest Income.

Form 1099MISC

This form originates from Accounting Services. Please determine the nature of the payments and contact the appropriate Accounting Services office.

 

Requests for duplicate copies and questions regarding…

Should be directed to…

Payments to the beneficiaries of deceased employees of the unpaid compensation due at the time of death. Please provide name, SSN, and date of death of the deceased.

Financial Processing Section

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9616

Lump sum payments with no deductions as the result of settlements. Please provide name, SSN, date of settlement, type of settlement, amount of settlement, period involved, and the date it was sent to the ASC for payment.

Financial Processing Section

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9616

Contract Cleaners

Contract Cleaners Unit

San Mateo Accounting Services

2700 Campus Drive

San Mateo, CA 94497-9426

All Others…

San Mateo Accounting Services

Attn: 1099 Research Team

2700 Campus Drive

San Mateo, CA 94497-9422

Form 1099R

This year, both the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Eagan Accounting Services are sending out 1099–R’s. The Eagan Accounting Services office issues a 1099R for annuity protection checks, and OPM issues a 1099R for monthly annuity checks. The originating agency should be listed on the Form 1099R. Try to determine which agency made the pay­ments before making the inquiry.

 

Requests for duplicate copies and questions regarding forms issued from…

Should be directed to…

The Eagan Accounting Service Center

Payroll Benefits Branch

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9621

Issued from OPM

Office of Personnel Management

Retirement Operations Center

Tax Processing Unit

PO Box 45

Boyers, PA 16017-0045

Form 1099INT

The use of this form is to report interest payments that were the result of employment related back pay awards.

 

Requests for duplicate copies and questions regarding 1099INTs…

Should be directed to…

Please provide name, SSN, and date of payment if known.

Financial Processing Section

Eagan Accounting Services

2825 Lone Oak Parkway

Eagan, MN 55121-9616