PlainStub tax forms, in plain words

Form W-2 ยท Tax year 2026

W-2 Box 12 and Box 14 Decoder: What the Codes Mean

Box 12 of your W-2 reports amounts using letter codes, and tax year 2026 adds codes that have never appeared on a W-2 before: TP for tips, TT for the overtime premium, TA for Trump Account contributions, plus a Treasury Tipped Occupation Code in Box 14b. Pick a code below and read what it means. The explanations come from the final 2026 Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3.

Last reviewed: November 3, 2026.

Pick a code

This decoder explains what a code means in general. It does not ask for the amounts on your W-2, and it cannot say whether an amount on your form is right or wrong. Only your employer can correct a W-2, using Form W-2c.

How to read Box 12

Box 12 can hold up to four entries. Each entry is a code, one or two letters, or the code DD, followed by an amount. The code says what kind of amount it is: pay you deferred into a retirement plan, a benefit your employer paid for, tax that was not collected, and so on. The full list is below, with the four entries that are new for 2026 first.

How to read Box 14

Box 14 is the employer's notes box. Apart from the new Box 14b, there is no standard list for it: the employer prints a short label beside each amount, and the same entry can be labelled differently by different employers. Box 14b is the exception. From tax year 2026 it carries a standard code, the Treasury Tipped Occupation Code, whenever tips are reported under Box 12 code TP.

Every code, in one list

TPQualified tips reported by your employernew for 2026
The amount of cash tips your employer reported for you for the year. This figure is new for tax year 2026 and feeds the new deduction for tips, covered on our Schedule 1-A page. For 2026, the IRS states in Fact Sheet FS-2026-13 that the deduction is generally limited to the amount the employer separately reported. Code TP appears together with a Treasury Tipped Occupation Code in Box 14b.
TTQualified overtime premium reported by your employernew for 2026
The qualified overtime premium your employer reported: only the extra half-time premium that the Fair Labor Standards Act requires. It is not your full overtime pay, and it does not include overtime paid only because of state law, a contract, or company policy. This figure is new for tax year 2026 and feeds the new overtime deduction. The IRS rules for it are in Fact Sheet FS-2026-13.
TAEmployer contributions to a Trump Accountnew for 2026
Contributions your employer made to a Trump Account, the savings account program for children created by Public Law 119-21. This code is new for tax year 2026. It records what the employer contributed; the amount comes from your employer, reported in Box 12.
14bTreasury Tipped Occupation Codenew for 2026
A three-digit code for the category of tipped work your tips were earned in, taken from the list of 71 Treasury Tipped Occupation Codes in the final Treasury regulations (T.D. 10044). For tax year 2026 this code is required on a W-2 that reports tips under Box 12 code TP. A code of 000 means the employer reported that some of the tips were not earned in an occupation on the Treasury list.
AUncollected Social Security or railroad retirement tax on tips
Social Security or railroad retirement (RRTA) tax on tip income that your employer did not collect during the year. The amount is added to the tax you owe when you file.
BUncollected Medicare tax on tips
Medicare tax on tip income that your employer did not collect during the year. The amount is added to the tax you owe when you file.
CTaxable cost of group-term life insurance over $50,000
The cost of employer-provided group-term life insurance coverage above $50,000. This amount is already included in the wages shown in Boxes 1, 3, and 5.
DElective deferrals to a 401(k) plan
Pay you chose to put into a 401(k) plan instead of taking it as cash wages. Designated Roth contributions to the plan are shown separately under code AA.
EElective deferrals to a 403(b) plan
Pay you chose to put into a 403(b) salary reduction agreement instead of taking it as cash wages.
FElective deferrals under a section 408(k)(6) SEP
Pay you chose to put into a salary reduction simplified employee pension plan under section 408(k)(6).
GElective deferrals to a section 457(b) plan
Pay you chose to defer into a section 457(b) deferred compensation plan of a state, local government, or tax-exempt employer.
HElective deferrals to a section 501(c)(18)(D) plan
Pay you chose to defer into a pension plan under section 501(c)(18)(D).
JNontaxable sick pay
Sick pay paid by a third party, such as an insurance company, that is not taxable to you.
KExcise tax on excess golden parachute payments
The 20 percent excise tax on excess golden parachute payments, reported by the payer.
LSubstantiated employee business expense reimbursements
Reimbursements for business expenses you substantiated, paid under an accountable plan. This amount is not taxable.
MUncollected Social Security or RRTA tax on group-term life insurance
For former employees: Social Security or railroad retirement tax on the taxable cost of group-term life insurance over $50,000 that the former employer did not collect.
NUncollected Medicare tax on group-term life insurance
For former employees: Medicare tax on the taxable cost of group-term life insurance over $50,000 that the former employer did not collect.
PExcludable moving expense reimbursements
Moving expense reimbursements paid directly to you that are excluded from income. Since 2018, this exclusion is generally limited to members of the Armed Forces who move under military orders.
QNontaxable combat pay
Combat pay that is excluded from your income. It is shown for information, including for credit calculations that are allowed to count it.
REmployer contributions to an Archer MSA
Contributions your employer made to your Archer medical savings account.
SSalary reduction contributions to a SIMPLE plan
Pay you chose to contribute to a retirement plan under section 408(p), a SIMPLE plan.
TAdoption benefits
Adoption benefits your employer provided or reimbursed under an adoption assistance program.
VIncome from nonstatutory stock options
Income from exercising nonstatutory stock options. This amount is already included in the wages shown in Boxes 1, 3, and 5.
WEmployer contributions to a health savings account
Contributions to your health savings account (HSA). The amount includes your own contributions made through a cafeteria plan as well as your employer's contributions.
YDeferrals under a section 409A plan
Amounts deferred under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that is subject to section 409A.
ZIncome under a section 409A plan
Amounts included in your income because a nonqualified deferred compensation plan did not meet the requirements of section 409A. This amount is already included in Box 1 wages.
AADesignated Roth contributions under a 401(k) plan
Your after-tax Roth contributions to a 401(k) plan. Unlike pre-tax deferrals under code D, these amounts are included in Box 1 wages.
BBDesignated Roth contributions under a 403(b) plan
Your after-tax Roth contributions to a 403(b) plan. These amounts are included in Box 1 wages.
DDCost of employer-sponsored health coverage
The total cost of your employer-sponsored health coverage, the employer's share and your share combined. The W-2 instructions state that this amount is reported for information only and is not taxable.
EEDesignated Roth contributions under a governmental 457(b) plan
Your after-tax Roth contributions to a governmental section 457(b) plan. These amounts are included in Box 1 wages.
FFPermitted benefits under a QSEHRA
The total permitted benefit you were offered under a qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement, whether or not you used all of it.
GGIncome from qualified equity grants under section 83(i)
Income from qualified equity grants under section 83(i), reported in the year the income is included.
HHAggregate deferrals under section 83(i)
The total amount deferred under section 83(i) elections that has not yet been included in income.
14Box 14, Other
Employers use Box 14 for information that does not fit anywhere else, and there is no standard code list for it: the short label printed beside each amount comes from the employer or its payroll provider. Common entries include state disability insurance premiums such as California SDI, union dues, after-tax pension contributions, educational assistance amounts, and charitable contributions made through payroll. Starting with tax year 2026, one part of Box 14 is standardized: Box 14b carries the Treasury Tipped Occupation Code, covered above.

Sources

Last reviewed: November 3, 2026.