2026 Form W-3 (PDF) — verbatim text

Official source: IRS Forms, Instructions & Publications (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw3.pdf), retrieved 2026-10-03. U.S. Government work (17 U.S.C. § 105).

Attention:¶

You may file Forms W-2 and W-3 electronically on the SSA’s Employer W-2 Filing…¶

Note: Copy A of this form is provided for informational purposes only. Copy A appears in red, similar to the official IRS form. The official printed version of this IRS form is scannable, but the online version of it, printed from this website, is not. Do not print and file Copy A downloaded from this website with the SSA; a penalty may be imposed for filing forms that can’t be scanned. See the penalties section in the current General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3, available at www.irs.gov/w2, for more information.

Please note that Copy B and other copies of this form, which appear in black, may be downloaded, filled in, and printed and used to satisfy the requirement to provide the information to the recipient.

To order official IRS information returns such as Forms W-2 and W-3, which include a scannable Copy A for filing, go to IRS’ Online Ordering for Information Returns and Employer Returns page, or visit www.irs.gov/orderforms and click on Employer and Information returns. We’ll mail you the scannable forms and any other products you order.

See IRS Publications 1141, 1167, and 1179 for more information about printing these tax forms.

			DO NOT STAPLE
33333	aControl number	aControl number	For Official Use Only: OMB No. 1545-0029	For Official Use Only: OMB No. 1545-0029	For Official Use Only: OMB No. 1545-0029	For Official Use Only: OMB No. 1545-0029
b Kind of Payer (Check one) 941 Military 943 944 CT-1 Hshld. emp. Medicare govt. emp.	b Kind of Payer (Check one) 941 Military 943 944 CT-1 Hshld. emp. Medicare govt. emp.	b Kind of Payer (Check one) 941 Military 943 944 CT-1 Hshld. emp. Medicare govt. emp.	b Kind of Payer (Check one) 941 Military 943 944 CT-1 Hshld. emp. Medicare govt. emp.	Kind of Employer (Check one) None apply 501c non-govt. State/local non-501c State/local 501c Federal govt.	Kind of Employer (Check one) None apply 501c non-govt. State/local non-501c State/local 501c Federal govt.	Third-party sick pay (Check if applicable)
c Total number of Forms W-2	c Total number of Forms W-2	d Establishment number	d Establishment number	1 Wages, tips, other compensation	2 Federal income tax withheld	2 Federal income tax withheld
e Employer identification number (EIN)	e Employer identification number (EIN)	e Employer identification number (EIN)	e Employer identification number (EIN)	3 Social security wages	4 Social security tax withheld	4 Social security tax withheld
f Employer’s name	f Employer’s name	f Employer’s name	f Employer’s name	5 Medicare wages and tips	6 Medicare tax withheld	6 Medicare tax withheld
g Employer’s address and ZIP code	g Employer’s address and ZIP code	g Employer’s address and ZIP code	g Employer’s address and ZIP code	7 Social security tips	8 Allocated tips	8 Allocated tips
g Employer’s address and ZIP code	g Employer’s address and ZIP code	g Employer’s address and ZIP code	g Employer’s address and ZIP code	9	10Dependent care benefits	10Dependent care benefits
g Employer’s address and ZIP code	g Employer’s address and ZIP code	g Employer’s address and ZIP code	g Employer’s address and ZIP code	11Nonqualified plans	12aDeferred compensation	12aDeferred compensation
h Other EIN used this year	h Other EIN used this year	h Other EIN used this year	h Other EIN used this year	13For third-party sick pay use only	12b	12b
15State Employer’s state ID number	15State Employer’s state ID number	15State Employer’s state ID number	15State Employer’s state ID number	14Income tax withheld by payer of third-party sick pay	14Income tax withheld by payer of third-party sick pay	14Income tax withheld by payer of third-party sick pay
16 State wages, tips, etc.	16 State wages, tips, etc.	17 State income tax	17 State income tax	18Local wages, tips, etc.	19Local income tax	19Local income tax
Employer’s contact person	Employer’s contact person	Employer’s contact person	Employer’s contact person	Employer’s telephone number	For Official Use Only	For Official Use Only
Employer’s fax number	Employer’s fax number	Employer’s fax number	Employer’s fax number	Employer’s email address	Employer’s email address	Employer’s email address

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return and accompanying documents, and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and complete.

Signature: Title: Date:

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Form W-3 Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements 2026¶

Send this entire page with the entire Copy A page of Form(s) W-2 to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Photocopies are not acceptable. Do not send Form W-3 if you filed electronically with the SSA. Do not send any payment (cash, checks, money orders, etc.) with Forms W-2 and W-3. Reminder

Separate instructions. See the 2026 General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3 for information on completing this form. Do not file Form W-3 for Form(s) W-2 that were submitted electronically to the SSA. Purpose of Form

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

Complete a Form W-3 transmittal only when filing paper Copy A of Form(s) W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. Don’t file Form W-3 alone. All paper forms must comply with IRS standards and be machine readable. Photocopies are not acceptable. Use a Form W-3 even if only one paper Form W-2 is being filed. Make sure both the Form W-3 and Form(s) W-2 show the correct tax year and employer identification number (EIN). Make a copy of this form and keep it with Copy D (For Employer) of Form(s) W-2 for your records. The IRS recommends retaining copies of these forms for at least 4 years. E-Filing

The SSA strongly suggests employers report Form W-3 and Forms W-2 Copy A electronically instead of on paper. The SSA provides two free e-filing options on its Business Services Online (BSO) website.

W-2 Online. Use fill-in forms to create, save, print, and submit up to 50 Forms W-2 at a time to the SSA.
File Upload. Upload wage files to the SSA you have created using payroll or tax software that formats the files according to the SSA’s Specifications for Filing Forms W-2 Electronically (EFW2) .

W-2 Online fill-in forms or file uploads will be on time if submitted by February 01, 2027 . For more information, go to www.SSA.gov/bso .

When To File Paper Forms

Mail Form W-3 with Copy A of Form(s) W-2 by February 01, 2027 . Where To File Paper Forms

Send this entire page with the entire Copy A page of Form(s) W-2 to:

Social Security Administration Direct Operations Center Wilkes-Barre, PA 18769-0001

Note: If you use “Certified Mail” to file, change the ZIP code to “18769-0002.” If you use an IRS-approved private delivery service, add “ATTN: W-2 Process, 1150 E. Mountain Dr.” to the address and change the ZIP code to “18702-7997.” Go to www.irs.gov/PDS for a list of IRSapproved private delivery services.

For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the separate instructions.

Cat. No. 10159Y Created 6/30/25

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